Chapter 2 Objectives

1.

Newtons Laws
1st Law (Law of Inertia) An object will remain in a state of rest or uniform velocity in a straight line unless acted upon by an
outside force.
Ex: If you stop suddenly in your car, you feel as if you are thrown toward the front of the car. Your body wants to
keep going forward and unless you brace yourself or are wearing a seatbelt, your body will keep moving forward.
2nd Law (Fnet = ma) The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely
proportional to its mass.
Ex: (Read 3rd Law example first) Even though the forces are the same, the insects low mass causes it to experience a
high acceleration. On the other hand, the cars large mass results in the car experiencing a very low acceleration.
3rd Law When one object exerts a force on a second object, the second exerts an equal force on the first but in the opposite
direction.
Ex: If an insect hits the windshield of a car, the force experienced by the car is equal to the force experienced by the
insect

2.

Forces A force is a push or pull that causes and object to accelerate. Force is measured in Newtons (N) = 1 kg m/s2.
a.

Gravitational Force (Weight) an objects weight is a force caused by gravity and is equal to its mass times the
acceleration due to gravity
Ex: Weight of a 75 kg person
W = mg = (75kg) * (9.8 m/s2) = 735 Newtons

b.

Tension the pulling force contained within a rope or cable (also measured in Newtons)

c.

Normal Force the force exerted by a surface at the point of contact (can only act perpendicular to the surface)
Ex: When you stand on the ground the ground applies a normal force upward that supports you.

d.

Frictional Force a retarding force that always acts in the opposite direction of motion (If an object isnt moving,
than friction opposes the direction the object wants to move.)

NOTE: Of the forces listed above, gravity is the only one that can act on an object without touching it.
3. Free Body Diagrams (FBD) used to determine the net force (Fnet) acting on an object
a. Draw arrows that represent Force vectors coming out of an object.
b. Only draw FORCES on a free body diagram (not velocity, acceleration, etc.)
c. Remember there must be contact to apply a force, other than gravity.
d. Use FBD to write an Fnet equation
To the right is positive and left is negative
Up is positive and down is negative

Ex. A 1500 kg boat is moving right with a speed of 30 m/s. The motor provides a thrust of 500 Newtons. The water applies
120 Newtons of drag and there are 40 Newtons of air resistance. Find the acceleration of the boat.
Sketch of Situation
m = 1500 kg

Free Body Diagram

Fair = 40 N

v = 30 m/s

Fmotor = 500 N

Fwater = 120 N

4.

Problem Solving using Newtons 2nd Law

a. Draw a sketch (see above)
b. Draw a Free Body Diagram with forces in their appropriate direction.
c. Use FBD to write and expression for Fnet (right is positive, left is negative)
Fnet

d.

=
=
=

Fmotor
Fair
500 N
40 N
340 Newtons

Fwater
120 N

Use Newtons 2nd Law ( Fnet = ma )

Fnet
=
m *
a
340 N = (1500kg) * a
a = 0.227 m/s2

5.

Vectors (Force vectors)

a. tail to tip method for adding vectors

6.

Weight vs. Apparent Weight

Your apparent weight is based on the normal force that the ground applies to you. When you stand on stationary ground the
normal force is exactly equal to your weight. In that case, your true weight and your apparent weight are the same. If you are in
an accelerating reference frame, for example an elevator that is accelerating upwards. Your body wants to remain at rest (inertia),
thus your body pushes into the floor with a force greater than your true weight. The normal force will match that increased force
and you will feel heavier as a result.

Chapter 3 Objectives
1.

Independence of X and Y
a. The time it takes for an object to fall to the ground is independent of the horizontal distance it travels.
b. A projectiles horizontal component of velocity does not change

(a)

(b)