Chapter 4 Forces and

Newtons Laws of Motion

 Newtons First Law
(aka Law of Inertia)

Objects maintain their state of

motion unless acted on by a net
external force.
Inertia resistance to change
in motion.
Mass measure of an objects
inertia (in kg)
 Newtons Second Law

F ma
net force mass acceleration
(Newtons) (kg) (m/s2)

The net force is the total (vector) force on the

object
 Newtons Second Law
in words

The net force on object equals the mass

of the object x its acceleration.
The acceleration of an object is
inversely proportional to its mass.

Given the same net force, a small mass will

accelerate more than a larger mass.
 Units for Mass, Acceleration, and Force

System Mass Accel. Force

SI kg m/s2 newton (N)
CGS g cm/s2 dyne (dyn)
BE slug foot/s2 pound (lb)
Weight force of gravity on a mass (Newtons)

F = ma

W = mg

A 1 kg object has a weight of

W = mg
W = (1 kg)(9.8 m/s2)
W= 9.8 N
 Newtons Third Law
For every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.

Forces always occur in pairs.

Newtons Third Law

Fhammer on nail = -Fnail on hammer

 Newtons Third Law
If one object exerts a force on another, then the
second object also exerts a force on the first; these
forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction. FA on B = -FB on A

Remember that the forces act on different objects

and DO NOT cancel out!

When determining the motion of an object, only

consider the forces acting ON the object.
An unfortunate box elder bug splatters against the windshield of a
moving car. Compared to the force of the car on the bug, the
force of the bug on the car is

a. larger
b. smaller
c. the same
d. need more information to say

c. the same

Compared to the deceleration of the car, the deceleration of the

windshield-hitting bug is

a. larger
b. smaller
c. the same
d. need more information to say

a. larger
 A box weighing 600 lbs is pushed along a horizontal floor at
constant velocity with a force of 250 lbs parallel to the floor.
What is the net force on the box?

The net force is zero since the velocity is constant (no accel.)

A car weighs 2193 lb.

(a) What is the weight of the car in N?

(b) What is the mass of the car in kg ?

(a) 9754 N (1 lb = 4.45 N)

(b) 995 kg (W = mg, g = 9.8 m/s2)
ASSIGN: Chapter 4 #1-13 (odds), p. 121
Due Thursday
Chapter 4 Conceptual Questions #1-18
Page 118
An object must be moving for it to have inertia. FALSE

In a tug of war, the person who pulls with the most force wins. FALSE

If the net force on an object is zero, it cant be moving. FALSE

In order for you to jump off the ground, you need to exert a force on
the floor that is greater than the force the floor exerts on you. FALSE

Constant velocity requires that the acceleration be zero. TRUE

As a ball falls freely, the distance it falls each second is the same. FALSE

If a horse pulls on a wagon at rest, the wagon pulls back

TRUE
equally as much on the horse.

When given the same force, a heavy mass will have a larger
FALSE
acceleration than a lighter mass.

Neglecting air resistance, all objects fall at the same rate. TRUE
If a horse pulls on a wagon at rest, the wagon pulls back equally as
much on the horse. Will the wagon be set into motion?

a. No, because the forces cancel each other out.

b. Yes, because there is a net force acting on the wagon.
c. Yes, because there is time delay between action and reaction.
d. Yes, only if the horses pull on the wagon is larger than the
wagons pull on the horse.

b. Yes, because there is a net force acting on the wagon.

An object of mass 5 kg is acted upon by exactly four forces, each of

magnitude 10 N. Which of the following could NOT be the
resulting acceleration of the object?
a. 0 m/s2
b. 2 m/s2
c. 4 m/s2
d. 8 m/s2
e. 10 m/s2

e. The maximum net force would be 40 N; 40N/5kg = 8 m/s2

 Clearly state Newtons Three Laws of Motion
in your own words.

First Law Objects maintain their state of motion until

acted upon by a net external force.

Second Law Given the same force, a more massive

object will have a smaller acceleration than a less
massive object.

F = ma
Third Law Every force has an equal and opposite force.
Section 4.7 The Gravitational Force

Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation

All masses attract each other with a force
determined by

force of masses (in kg)

attraction
(in N) distance b/w mass
centers (m)

G 6.67259 x 10 -11 N m2
kg 2
Universal Gravitational Constant (G)

G 6.67259 x 10 -11 N m2
kg 2
The force of gravity between masses depends on
The value of each mass
The distance between their center of masses
Inverse Square Law The force of gravity
becomes 4x less when r doubles.
 True or False
1. You exert the same amount of force on
the earth as it exerts on you. TRUE!

2. If you threw something fast enough it

would never land.
TRUE!
3. The sun exerts more of a force on you
than the moon.
TRUE!
How many more times?
Weightlessness feeling experienced
during free-fall due to lack of support
force.
Apparent Weight Weight read by a scale;
reaction force applied to the person.
True Weight Actual weight due to
gravitational force.
Zero g or micro g Zero acceleration of
gravity experienced by astronaut; Not
zero gravity, gravity holds them in orbit!
 True or False
1. There is barely any gravity in an orbiting
space shuttle. FALSE!
2. The earth exerts the same gravitational
force on a falling penny as it does on a ton
of bricks. FALSE!
3. Neglecting air resistance, a falling ton of
bricks will fall faster than a falling penny.
FALSE!
Weight of objects on the surface of the earth

W mg g = 9.80 m/s2
ASSIGNMENT:
Ch. 4 #18, 20, 24, 30
Due Friday
 Section 4.8 The Normal Force
The normal force (FN) is a support force
that a surface exerts on an object.

FN = W since net force on box is zero.

 Section 4.8 The Normal Force

FN > W since box is being pressed down.

Section 4.8 The Normal Force

FN < W since box is being lifted up.

 Section 4.8 The Normal Force

FN is always perpendicular to the surface.

 Section 4.8 The Normal Force

Apparent Weight weight read by the scale.

True Weight weight due to gravity.
Section 4.8 The Normal Force

F ma
Fy FN mg
FN mg ma
FN mg ma
Apparent True
Weight Weight
 Section 4.9 Friction
Friction force that opposes motion.

Depends on

1. Types of surfaces in contact

2. Amount of force pressing surfaces
together (the normal force)

Does NOT depend on contact surface

area (according to the books)
Static Friction (fs) friction holding an
object in place.
Kinetic Friction (fk) friction while
object is moving.

f s
MAX
s FN s coefficient of
static friction

f k k FN k coefficient of
kinetic friction
 ASSIGNMENT:

Read 4.8 4.9

Chapter 4 #34 39 (p. 123)

 Help with solving problems
1. Draw a picture of the object; include all
forces drawn with the correct direction.
2. Write an expression for the net force
(F). Have a separate expression for the
horizontal (x) and vertical (y) direction.
3. Set the net force expression equal to ma.

4. Try substituting to eliminate the

number of variables. Keep trying!!
Tension (T) the reaction force of a pulling on an object.

Pull w/ 100 N, box pulls back / 100 N.

Tension in rope is 100 N, not 200 N

Spring
scale
reads
100 N

What does
spring
scale
read
now?
100 N
Applying Newtons 2nd Law

Equilibrium (a = 0)

Fx = 0
Fy = 0
Non-Equilibrium (a 0)
Fx = max
Fy = may
Free-Body Diagrams Show relative
magnitudes and directions of all forces
acting on an object.

Free-Body Diagrams help to visualize

all the forces acting to determine the
net force.

Dont forget that F = ma

 Free-Body Diagram Examples

A book is at rest on a table top.

A girl is suspended motionless from the ceiling

by two ropes.
 Free-Body Diagram Examples
A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it
across a desk with a rightward acceleration. Consider
frictional forces. Neglect air resistance.

A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it

across a desk at constant velocity. Consider frictional
forces. Neglect air resistance.
 Free-Body Diagram Examples

A car is coasting to the right and slowing down.

An leave is free-falling from a tree. Neglect air

resistance.
Free-Body Diagram Examples

A block on an inclined plane.

 ASSIGNMENT:
Ch. 4 #46,47,50,51,53,58,63,67
due Tuesday