Foxtrot by Bill Amend

Newtons Laws and Friction

Physics 50

Peter Beyersdorf

Document info

5. 1

Class Outline
Problem solving strategy

Example Problems

Description of Friction

Static

Kinetic

Example Problems

5. 2

Solving Force Problems

1. Identify the object of interest

2. Draw a free-body diagram for that object

3. Add up all forces in x, in y

4. Use F=ma, in x and in y directions

5. Solve for quantity of interest

6. Repeat with another object if necessary to
solve for another unknown

5. 3

Objects in Equilibrium
Equilibrium implies no net force on object

Forces in x-direction balance

Forces in y-direction balance

5. 4

Equilibrium Example 1
Q5.1!
A car engine is suspended from a chain linked at O to two
other chains. Which of the following forces should be
included in the free-body diagram for the engine?!
1. tension T1!
2. tension T2!
3. tension T3!
4. two of the above!
5. all of T1, T2, and T3!

bit.ly/phys51
5. 5

Equilibrium Example 2
Q5.2!
A cable attached to the
car holds the car at
rest on the frictionless
ramp (angle ). !
The ramp exerts a normal force on the car. How does the magnitude
n of the normal force compare to the weight w of the car?!
1. n = w !
2. n > w!
3. n < w!
4. not enough information given to decide!
bit.ly/phys51
5. 6

Modified Atwoods Machine Example

Q5.3!
A cart (mass m1, weight w1)
is attached by a lightweight
cable to a bucket (mass m2,
weight w2) as shown. The
ramp is frictionless. !
When released, the cart accelerates up the ramp.!
Which of the following is a correct free-body diagram for the cart?!
n

n
T
w

1.!

n
T

2.!

T
m1a

T
m1a

3.!

4.!
bit.ly/phys51
5. 7

Modified Atwoods Machine Example

Q5.4!
A cart (mass m1, weight w1)
is attached by a lightweight
cable to a bucket (mass m2,
weight w2) as shown. !
The ramp is frictionless. The pulley is frictionless and does
not rotate. When released, the cart accelerates up the ramp
and the bucket accelerates downward.!
Which statement about the cable tension (magnitude T) is correct?!
1. T = w2!
2. T > w2!
3. T < w2!
4. not enough information given to decide!

bit.ly/phys51
5. 8

Friction Example
Q5.5!
You are pushing a 1.00-kg
food tray through the
cafeteria line with a
constant 9.0-N force. As
the tray moves, it pushes on
a 0.50-kg milk carton.!
Which of the following forces should be included in a free-body
diagram for the milk carton?!
1. the weight of the milk carton!
2. the force of the milk carton on the tray!
3. the force you exert with your hand!
4. the acceleration of the milk carton!
5. more than one of the above!

bit.ly/phys51
5. 9

Modified Atwoods Machine Example 2

Q5.6!
Blocks A and C are connected
by a string as shown. When
released, block A accelerates
to the right and block C
accelerates downward. !
Although there is friction between blocks A and B,
there is not enough to prevent block B from slipping.
If you stood next to the table during the time that
block B is slipping on top of block A, you would see!
1. block B accelerating to the right !
2. block B accelerating to the left !
3. block B moving at constant speed to the right !
4. block B moving at constant speed to the left !
5. none of the above!
bit.ly/phys51
5. 10

Unbanked Curve Example

Q5.7!
You are driving your car
(mass m) at a constant speed v
around a flat, unbanked curve
of radius R.!

Which of the following forces

should be included in a freebody diagram for the car?!
1. an outward centrifugal force of magnitude mv2/R !
2. an inward centripetal force of magnitude mv2/R !
3. the force of the car s acceleration!
4. two of the above!
5. none of the above!
bit.ly/phys51
5. 11

Banked Curve Example

Q5.8!
You are driving your car
(mass m) at a constant speed v
around a banked curve of
radius R and bank angle
(measured from the
horizontal).!

Which of the following forces should be included in a free-body

diagram for the car?!
1. a normal force that points vertically upward !
2. a normal force that points at an angle from the vertical !
3. a normal force that points at an angle from the horizontal !
4. an outward centrifugal force of magnitude mv2/R !
5. more than one of the above!
bit.ly/phys51
5. 12

Equilibrium example
An engine of mass M hangs in
an autoshop as shown in the
diagram. What is the tension
in each of the three chains?

5.13

Equilibrium example

Free-body
diagram for
Engine

Free-body
diagram for
suspension ring
5.14

Equilibrium example

T1=mg

T2=T3 cos 60 = mg/tan(60)

T3 = mg/sin(60)

5.15

Elevator example
An elevator accelerates
downwards at 2m/s2. A
woman of mass M is on a
scale, what weight does the
scale read?

Before stopping the
downward traveling elevator
decelerates at 2m/s2, what
weight does the scale read?

5. 16

Elevator example
An elevator accelerates
downwards at 2m/s2. A
woman of mass M is on a
scale, what weight does the
scale read?

N=m 7.8 m/s^2 = 0.8 Mg

Before stopping the
downward traveling elevator
decelerates at 2m/s2, what
weight does the scale read?

N=m 11.8m/s^2 = 1.2 Mg
5.17

Elevator example 2
An elevator of mass m is
counterbalanced by a weight with
mass M. If the motor and brake
are not engaged what will be the
acceleration of the elevator?

5.18

Elevator example 2
An elevator of mass m is
counterbalanced by a weight with
mass M. If the motor and brake
are not engaged what will be the
acceleration of the elevator?

a=(m-M)/(M+m) g

5.19

Example
A tightrope walker has a mass
of 50 kg. The rope has a
breaking strength of 2.5 kN. If
the rope is 10m long, What is the
least amount it can sag when the
acrobat is in the middle of the
rope?

5.20

/2)
L
(
+

L/2

in y-direction
2(T sin )

(L/2)2

(L/2)2

= mg

p
2T d = mg d2 + (L/2)2
2

(2T d) = (mg)
d2 (2T )2

d + (L/2)

(mg)2

L
1
p
d=
2 (2T /mg)2

when T=Tmax=2500 N
2

(mg)2 = (mg)2 (L/2)2

2
(mgL/2)
d2 =
((2T )2 (mg)2 )

(mgL/2)

d= p
(2T )2

d
d2

T
mg

mg = may

2T d
+

sin = p
d2

10 m
1
p
d=
2
(2(2500 N)/(50 kg)(9.8 m/s2 ))2

10 m
1
p
d=
2
(2(2500 N)/(50 kg)(9.8 m/s2 ))2
= 0.50 m

1
5.21

Frictional forces
Friction is a contact force

Opposes motion

Proportional to the Normal force

Depends on the materials in contact

5.22

Friction as a contact force

Comes from roughness of
surfaces

Opposes motion

Friction ranges from zero to
a maximum value for
stationary objects

Friction has a constant value
for moving objects

5.23

Friction depends on the

Normal force
Max value proportional to
the normal force

Constant of
proportionality depends
on the materials in
contact

direction of force vector

opposes (would-be) motion

-N
N

5.24

Some values for s

5.25

Free-body diagram

N
f
mg

5.26

Free-body diagram

N
f

mg sin

mg cos
5.27

Static friction example

A brass and an aluminum block sit on an inclined plane
made of steel. Over what range of inclination angles
will one block stay stationary while the other slides
down the slope?

Which one will slide down the slope?

5.28

Static friction example

A brass and an aluminum block sit on an inclined plane
made of steel. Over what range of inclination angles
will one block stay stationary while the other slides
down the slope?

Which one will slide down the slope?

The angle when a block will slide is =tan1()

so for aluminum-steel = 0.61

brass-steel=0.51

27<<31 only the brass block will slide

5.29

Kinetic friction
Constant force opposing
motion for a moving
object

Constant of proportionality
depends on the materials in
contact

Is always less or equal to

maximum static friction

direction of force vector
opposes motion
5.30

Some values for k

5.31

Kinetic friction example

A brass and an aluminum block sit on an inclined plane
made of steel. When the plane is inclined just enough
so that they both begin to slide, what is their
acceleration?

How much further apart are they are sliding for 1
second.

5.32

Kinetic friction example

A brass and an aluminum block sit on an inclined plane
made of steel. When the plane is inclined just enough
so that they both begin to slide, what is their
acceleration?

How much further apart are they are sliding for 1
second.

With =31 (from earlier problem) both will slide

Brass (k=0.44) so a=1.35m/s^2

Aluminum (k=0.47) a=1.10 m/s^2

and x(1 s)=12.5 cm

5.33

Friction in real life

What force causes a car to turn?

What is the maximum value for that force?

How can that be increased? (i.e. how do you design a
car that corners better?)

5.34

Example #1
On the Gravitron riders
travel in a circle at
constant speed. The
period of revolution is
4.0s, the radius is 5m.
What is the minimum
coefficient of friction
necessary to keep them
from sliding down the
walls when the floor
drops out?

5.35

Example #1
On the Gravitron riders
travel in a circle at
constant speed. The
period of revolution is
4.0s, the radius is 5m.
What is the minimum
coefficient of friction
necessary to keep them
from sliding down the
walls when the floor
drops out?

circumference=31.4m

speed=7.9 m/s

a=12.3 m/s^2

s>0.79
5.36

Example #2
Draw free body diagrams
for the following situations.

Under what conditions will
the masses slide?

5.37

Example #2
y

N2
N1

f2
f1

mg

sin
g
m

Fy=0:

cos

mg

Mg

Fx=0:

N2-Mg cos=0

f2-Mg sin=0

N1-mg cos=0

f1-mg sin=0

Mg cos

sin
g
M

For static friction

f2sN2

f1sN1

When friction is at its maximum value

s(Mg cos)-Mg sin=0

s(mg cos)-mg sin=0

s(cos)-sin=0

Beyond this the blocks will slide, i.e. they will slide for
>tan-1

=tan-1

5.38

Example #2
y

N2
N1

N1

f1

f2

f1

sin
g
m

Mg

cos

mg

mg

Mg cos

sin
g
M

Block 1:
Fy=0:

N1-m1g cos=0

Fx=0:

T-f1-m1g sin=0

For static friction:

f1sN1

N2=m1g cos
thus:

m1g sin+sm1g cosT

5.39

Example #2
y

N2
N1

N1

f1

f2

f1

mg

sin
g
m

cos

mg

Block 2:
Fy=0:

N2N1-m2g cos=0

Fx=0:

T+f1+f2-m2g sin=0

Mg

Mg cos

sin
g
M

For static friction:

f2sN2

N2m1g cos-m2g cos=0

N2=(m1+m2)g cos
thus:

T+s(m1g cos)+s(m1+m2)g cos-m2g sin0

T-s(m1g cos)-s(m1+m2)g cos+m2g sin
5.40

Example #2
y

N2
N1

N1

f1

f2

f1
Mg

cos

sin
g
m

Block 1:
Block 2:

mg

mg

Mg cos

sin
g
M

m1g sin+sm1g cosT

T-s(m1g cos)-s(m1+m2)g cos+m2g sin

m1g sin+sm1g cos-s(m1g cos)-s(m1+m2)g cos+m2g sin

m1g sin-m2g sin-s(m1g cos)-s(m1+m2)g cos-sm1g cos

(m1-m2)g sin s(-m1-(m1+m2)-m1)g cos
tan s

tan

3m1 + m2
m1 m2

3m1 + m2
m2 m1

5.41

Example 3
A crate of mass m rests on a horizontal floor with
coefficients of friction s and k. A woman pushes on it
with a force of magnitude F at an angle below the
horizontal. What magnitude of force F is required to
keep it moving at a steady rate.

Show that there is a critical value for s beyond which
she cannot get the crate to move no matter how hard
she pushes.

5.42

Example 3
A crate of mass m rests on a horizontal floor with
coefficients of friction s and k. A woman pushes on it
with a force of magnitude F at an angle below the
horizontal. What magnitude of f is required to keep it
moving at a steady rate.

f = k(mg) /(cos -k sin)

Show that there is a critical value for s beyond which
she cannot get the crate to move no matter how hard
she pushes.

for k=tan-1, f. Beyond this the crate cannot be moved!

5.43

Summary
Problems involving forces can be solved systematically

In equilibrium

horizontal forces balance

vertical forces balance

Friction is a contact force that opposes motion

static friction is less than or equal to some maximum value

kinetic friction is a constant

coefficient of friction is a constant of proportionality between
the maximum frictional force and the normal force at the
surface
5.44

Glossary
Equilibrium

Kinetic Friction

Static Friction

Coefficient of friction

5.45