Laws of Motion - General Description | Physics Class 11

First law of motion (Law of Inertia)

According to first law of motion Everybody in the universe continue its state of rest or of
uniform motion in a straight line unless it is affected by some external unbalance force to change
the state. This law is also called the law of inertia.

a) Inertia of rest
When a bus suddenly moves, the passengers falls backward, it is because the lower part
of the body of the passengers in contact to the bus is in motion but upper part tends to be
at rest. So, the passenger tends to fall backward.
When we shake mango tree, the mangos fall down. It is because when we shake the tree,
the mangos tend to be at rest due to inertia where as the branches are in the motion. That
is why the mangos get unattached from the branches.
Second law of Motion
According to second law of motion The rate of change in momentum of a body directly
proportional to the net external force applied on it and the change in momentum takes place in
the direction of force applied.

Let us consider body of mass (m) moving with initial velocity (v1) then initial momentum (p1) =
m.v1

Now, a force (f) is applying on the body a small duration of time (df) due to which its velocity
changes from v1 to v2 then final momentum (p2) = m.v2

Change in momentum = m.v2 m.v1
dp = p2 p1
= m (v2 v1)
= m.dv

Rate of change in momentum
dp / df = m.dv / df

According to definition

f (m.dv) / df
Or f = k.ma

Where, (dv / df) = a (Acceleration)
K = proportionality constant.

If m = 1kg , f = 1N, a = 1 m/s^2 then k = 1

f = ma

If m = 1 kg, a = 1 m/s^2 then,
f = 1 kgm/s2 = 1 N

Therefore, One Newton is that much force which when applied on a body of 1 kg produced
acceleration of 1 m/s^2.

Third law of motion
According to 3rd law of motion Every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

Impulse
Impulse of a force is measured by change in linear momentum produce by the force.
Impulse = Force time of impact
= Change in momentum
Therefore, Impulse = F d = mv mu


Notes | Physics, For: Science Class 11
General Terms in Kinematics

Static: The branch of mechanics which deals with body at rest is called static.
Kinematics: The branch of mechanics which deals with the motion of object without taking
causes.
Dynamics: The branch of mechanics which deals with the motion of object taking into
consideration the causes.
Distance: The length of the path followed by an object between its initial and final position is
called distance.
Displacement: Shortest length of the path between two points in a direction is called
displacement.

Difference between distance and displacement are as follows:
Distance Displacement
1. It is always positive.
2. It is scalar quantity.
3. It depends upon the path followed by an
object.
1. It may be positive, negative or zero.
2. It is vector quantity.
3. IT doesnt depend upon the path.


Speed: The distance travelled by a body in one second is known as speed.
Velocity: Rate of change of displacement with respect to time is called velocity.

Difference between speed and velocity:
Speed Velocity
1. It doesn't show any direction
2. It is scalar quantity.
3. It is always positive
1. It shows the direction of motion.
2. It is vector quantity.
3. It may be positive, negative or zero.

Instant Velocity: The velocity at a particular instant of time is called instantaneous velocity.
Instantaneous acceleration: Acceleration at a particular instant of time is known as
instantaneous acceleration.