Newtons Second Law:

Second Law: Whenever a resultant force

acts on an object, it produces an
acceleration: an acceleration that is
directly proportional to the force and
inversely proportional to the mass.

F
a
m

Example 1: What resultant force F is required to

give a 6 kg block an acceleration of 2 m/s2?
a = 2 m/s2
6 kg

F=?

F = ma = (6 kg)(2 m/s2)
F = 12 N

Example 3. A net force of 4.2 x 104 N acts on a 3.2 x 104 kg airplane

during takeoff. What is the force on the planes 75-kg pilot?

First we find the

acceleration a of
plane.

F = 4.2 x 104 N

F 4.2 x 104 N
a
4
m 3.2 x 10 kg

F = ma

m = 3.2 x 104 kg

a = 1.31 m/s2

To find F on 75-kg pilot, assume same acceleration:

F = ma = (75 kg)(1.31 m/s2);

F = 98.4 N

Applying Newtons Second Law

Read, draw, and label problem.
Draw free-body diagram for each body.
Choose x or y-axis along motion and choose
direction of motion as positive.
Write Newtons law for both axes:

SFx = m ax

SFy = m ay

Solve for unknown quantities.

Example 7: A cart and driver have a mass of 120 kg.

What force F is required to give an acceleration of 6
m/s2 with no friction?

Diagram for Cart:

n
W

Example 7 (Cont.) What force F is required to

give an acceleration of 6 m/s2?
m = 120 kg

Diagram for cart:

ay = 0

n-W=0
The normal force n

SFy = 0;

is equal to weight W

SFx = max; F = ma
F = (120 kg)(6 m/s2)

F = 720 N

Example 8: What is the tension T in the rope if

the block accelerates upward at 4 m/s2?
T

a
10 kg

a = +4 m/s2
T
mg

SFx = m ax = 0 (No info)

SFy = m ay = m a

T - mg = m a
mg = (10 kg)(9.8 m/s) = 98 N
m a= (10 kg)(4 m/s) = 40 N
T - 98 N = 40 N

T = 138 N

Example 9: In the absence of friction, what is

the acceleration down the 300 incline?
+
n
n
mg sin 600
600

300

mg
SFx = m ax
mg cos 600 = m a

a = g cos 600

a = (9.8 m/s2) cos 600

a = 4.9 m/s2

Example 10. Two-Body Problem: Find tension in the

connecting rope if there is no friction on the surfaces.

12 N

2 kg

4 kg

Find acceleration of
system and tension
in connecting cord.

First apply F = ma to entire system (both masses).

SFx = (m2 + m4) a

12 N

12 N = (6 kg) a
(m2 + m4)g

a=

12 N
6 kg

a = 2 m/s2

Example 10 (Cont.) The two-body problem.

12 N

2 kg

4 kg

Now find tension T

in connecting cord.

Apply F = m a to the 2 kg mass where a = 2 m/s2.

SFx = m2 a
T = (2 kg)(2 m/s2)

m2 g

T=4N

Example 10 (Cont.) The two-body problem.

2 kg

4 kg

12 N Same answer for T

results from focusing

on 4-kg by itself.

Apply F = m a to the 4 kg mass where a = 2 m/s2.

12 N

m2 g

SFx = m4 a
12 N - T = (4 kg)(2 m/s2)

T=4N

Example 11 Find acceleration of system and

tension in cord for the arrangement shown.
First apply F = m a to entire
system along the line of motion.

2 kg

SFx = (m2 + m4) a

4 kg

m4g = (m2 + m4) a

+a
T

m2 g
m4 g

Note m2g is balanced by n.

a=

m4g
m2 + m4

(4 kg)(9.8 m/s2)

2 kg + 4 kg

a = 6.53 m/s2

Example 11 (Cont.) Now find the tension T given that

the acceleration is a = 6.53 m/s2.

To find T, apply F = m a to just

the 2 kg mass, ignoring 4 kg.

2 kg

4 kg

+a
T

m2 g
m4 g

m2 a or T m2 a

T = (2 kg)(6.53 m/s2)

T = 13.1 N
Same answer if using 4 kg.

m4g - T = m4 a
T = m4(g - a) = 13.1 N

Summary
Newtons First Law: An object at rest or an object
in motion at constant speed will remain at rest or
at constant speed in the absence of a resultant
force.

Newtons Second Law: A resultant force produces

an acceleration in the direction of the force that
is directly proportional to the force and inversely
proportional to the mass.
Newtons Third Law: For every action force,
there must be an equal and opposite reaction
force. Forces occur in pairs.

Summary: Procedure
FR ma;

FR
a
m

N = (kg)(m/s2)

Read, draw and label problem.

Draw free-body diagram for each body.

Choose x or y-axis along motion and choose

direction of motion as positive.
Write Newtons law for both axes:

SFx = m ax

SFy = m ay

Solve for unknown quantities.