Application of Newtons Laws

1. Two blocks are in contact on a frictionless surface. A horizontal force is applied to the larger block, as shown below.

m1

m2

a. If m1 = 2.3 kg , m2 = 1.2 kg , and F = 3.2 N , find the normal force between the two blocks. b. Find the normal force between the blocks if the same force F is applied to m2 . a.

m1

m2

For mass m1
F N = m1a

(1)

For mass m2
N = m2 a

(2)

Combining equations 1 and 2 gives

F = ( m1 + m2 ) a a= F m1 + m2
m2 F (1.2 kg)(3.2N) = = 1.1N m1 + m2 2.3kg + 1.2 kg

N=

(3)

N = 1.1 N

b. Interchange m1 and m2
N= m2 F (2.3kg)(3.2N) = = 2.1N m1 + m2 1.2 kg + 2.3kg

N = 2.1 N

2. Find the acceleration of the system and the tension in the string. Assume that the surface is frictionless and the pulley and string are massless.

a. Free body diagram

T2

T1 Mg
Because the cord length is fixed, a1 = a2 = a . Also, the pulley is massless and frictionless. Thus, T1 = T2 = T . Using Newtons second law
(1) T = Ma mg T = ma (2)

mg

Adding equatons (1) and (2) gives

mg = ( M + m)a
a= m g M +m

Substituting back into equation (1)

T= M mg M +m

3. A small block which slides on an inclined plane. Find the acceleration of the block if a. the surface is frictionless b. the surface is rough with coefficient of sliding friction k .

mg

a. The forces that act on the block are the weight mg and the normal force N. We select the coordinate system, as shown in the figure below.

y N mg sin mg cos mg

Ff

By Newtons second law

F = ma

Using coordinate axes with positive x pointing down the plane, we can easily break the vector equation into its x and y components. In the x direction:

= max

mg sin Ff = max mg sin 0 = max ax = g sin

Because of our choice of coordiantes, the block does not move in the y direction and therfore G i a y = 0 . With all of the acceleration being only in the x direction, we have a = g sin

b. By Newtons second law, In the x direction:

F = ma .

= max

mg sin Ff = max mg sin k N = max mg sin k mg cos = max ax = g sin k g cos

Because of our choice of coordiantes the block does not move in the y direction and therfore
a y = 0 . With all of the acceleration being only in the x direction, we have

G a = ( g sin k g cos ) i

4. Two blocks are connected by a string, as shown in the figure. The system is in equilibrium. The inclined plane makes an angle of 42o with the horizontal. Assuming that the plane is frictionless, what is the mass of the hanging block?

m1 = 6.7 kg

m2 42o

The free-body diagrams of the blocks m1 and m2 are shown below.

m1g

m2g

The down-plane component of the 6.7 kg mass is given by

m1 g sin 42o = (6.7 kg)(9.81ms -2 ) (sin 42o ) = 44 N

m1g sin42o

m1g 42

m1g cos 42o

For the system to be motionless, at equilibrium, this force must be balanced by the tension of the string. On the other hand, the hanging block is also in equilibrium, so its weight m2g must balance the tension force. Thus,
m2 g = 44 N m2 = 4.5 kg

5. A block of mass 30 kg is supported by two wires attached to the ceiling, as shown in the figure below. Find the tensions in the wires.

T1

T2

200

50

T3

= m ax (1)

T1 cos 20D + T2 cos 50D = (30 kg)(0 m 2 /s 2 ) T1 cos 20D + T2 cos 50D = 0

= m ay

T1 sin 20D + T2 sin 50D T3 = (30 kg)(0 m 2 /s 2 ) T1 sin 20D + T2 sin 50D m g = 0 T1 sin 20D + T2 sin 50D (30 kg)(9.8 m/s 2 ) = 0 T1 sin 20D + T2 sin 50D 294N = 0 (2)

Solving equations (1) and (2) for T1 and T2 we get:

T1 = 201N and T2 = 294 N

6. A block of mass 7.96 kg rests on a plane inclined at 22 to the horizontal. The coefficient of static friction is 0.25 and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.15. a. What is the minimum force, parallel to the plane, which can prevent the block from slipping down the plane? b. What is the minimum force that will start the block moving up the plane? c. What force is required to move the block up the plane at constant velocity?

N Ff Fmin

22o

mg

a. When F is at its minimum, the force of static friction Ff is directed up and is equal to its maximum value: F f ,
max

= s N = s mg cos . Since the object is at rest ax= 0.

Treating up the plane as being in the positive x direction, we have:

= m ax

Fmin + Ff ,max mg sin = 0 Fmin + s N mg sin = 0 Fmin + s mg cos mg sin = 0 Fmin = mg (sin s cos ) = (7.96 kg)(9.81m/s 2 )[sin 22D - (0.25) cos 22D ] = 11N b. To start moving the block up the plane, we must have F mg sin s mg cos 0 . Notice that the friction force now acts down the plane, opposite the direction of motion. The minimum value is achieved when

Fmin = mg ( sin + s cos ) = 4.7 101 N

= ( 7.96 kg)(9.81m/s 2 ) ( sin 22 + (0.25) cos 22 )

c. Because the block is already in motion, the frictional force acting on it is that of kinetic friction. We replace s with k , and the force of friction becomes f s , max = k N = k mg cos . Thus, Fmin mg sin k mg cos = ma = 0 , and
F = mg ( sin + k cos ) = (7.96 kg)(9.81m/s 2 ) ( sin 22 + (0.15) cos 22 ) = 4.0 101 N

7. A force F is exerted on the axle of the pulley, as shown in the figure below. The pulley and string are massless and there is no friction. Two objects, m1 = 1.20 kg and m2 = 1.90 kg, are attached as shown to the opposite ends of the string. The object m2 is at rest on the floor. a. What is the largest value the force F may have so that m2 will remain at rest on the floor? b. What is the tension in the string if the upward force F is 110 N? c. Referring to (b) above, what is the acceleration of m1 ?

m1 m2

a. We start by writing the free body equations for each object. Mass m1 is being acted on by the tension in the rope T and by its weight m1 g.
T m1 g = m1a1

(1)

Mass m2 is being acted on by the tension in the rope T and by its weight m2 g.
T m2 g = m2 a2

(2)

The pulley has three forces acting on it: two sets of T acting downward, and F acting upward. The forces involved in its free body diagram give: F - 2T = (mass pulley)(acceleration of pulley) = (0)(ap) = 0, giving us our third equation
F 2T = 0

(3)

We also have some constraints in this problem. If the pulley moves up a distance h, and
m2 doesnt move, then m1 moves up a distance of 2 h. Since this movement is all taking place in

the same time frame, the acceleration is in the same ratio as the distances moved. The equation linking the accelerations will be a1 + a2 = 2a p . Visualize it with the following two examples. If m2 doesnt move and the pulley goes up by one unit, m1 will go up by two units. If the pulley doesnt move and m2 goes up by one unit, m1 will go down by one unit. Make sure that the equation a1 + a2 = 2a p models these two situations.

Bringing all of our equations together for the general condition of how things move gives:
T m1 g = m1a1 T m2 g = m2 a2 F 2T = 0 a1 + a2 = 2a p (1) (2) (3) (4)

Putting in the conditions for part (a), where m1 = 1.20 kg, m2 = 1.90 kg, a2 = 0 m/s 2 , giving us:
m1 g = (1.20 kg)(9.81m/s 2 ) = 11.8N m2 g = (1.90 kg)(9.81m/s 2 ) = 18.6N

These four equations become:

T 11.8 = 1.20a1 T 18.6 = 0 F 2T = 0 a1 = 2a p (1) (2) (3) (4)

We have intentionally left out the units to make it easier to see that we now have four equations and four unknowns. Using standard algebra techniques these can be solved as:

F = 37.3 N,

T =18.6 N,

a1 = 5.72 m/s 2 ,

a p = 2.86 m/s 2

Thus the answer to part a) is F = 46.1 N

b. We can start again from the four equations above that we developed for the general condition. This time F = 110 N and a2 is a variable
T 11.8 = 1.20 a1 T 18.6 = 1.90 a2 110 2T = 0 a1 + a2 = 2a p (1) (2) (3) (4)

Again we have four equations and four unknowns, which can be solved as:

T = 55.0 N,

a1 = 36.0 m/s 2 ,

a2 = 19.1m/s 2 ,

a p = 27.6 m/s 2

Thus the answer to part (b) is T = 55.0 N

c. The answer to this part of the question was revealed when working on part (b). The answer is that a1 = 36.0 m/s 2 . You should now think about the entire set of results in part (b). Remember that m2 is more massive than m1 so the pulley is turning clockwise as the entire combination is being lifted off the table. With the pulley turning clockwise, which of the three objects is moving the fastest? Which is moving the slowest? Do the results you get when you think about this agree with the results showing in the answer to part (b)?