Mechanics

PHYS1101

Dynamics: Force and Newton’s Laws of Motion

Aims of this lecture:

a) Identify Newton’s Laws of motion
b) Understand and apply free body
diagrams and calculate the motions
induced.
c) Understand friction and apply
frictional force in free body diagrams.
d) Understand equations of circular
motion and apply for problem solving.

Dr Maria Parappilly
Office: 3001, School of Chemical &
Physical Sciences
Phone: 8201-5842
Email: [email protected]
Lecture 3 Dynamics, March 9, 2018 Newton’s laws of motion describe the motion of the dolphin’s path. (credit: Jin Jang)
 PHYS1101

Introduction to Dynamics

 Motion draws our attention!! Motion itself can be beautiful, causing us to

marvel at the forces needed to achieve spectacular motion, such as that of a
dolphin jumping out of the water.

 Dynamics is the study of how forces affect the motion of objects.

 Newton’s laws of motion are the foundation of dynamics!!!

 These laws provide an example of the breadth and simplicity of principles

under which nature functions.

 They are also universal laws in that they apply to similar situations on Earth as
well as in space.

(credit: OpenStax)
 PHYS1101

Newton’s Laws of Motion

 Isaac Newton changed the face of mechanics and science forever

when in the Principia (1687) he outlined three laws of motion.

 First Law: Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform

velocity in a straight line unless acted upon by a non-zero net force.
• This is called the Law of Inertia: Inertia is the property of not
changing state.
 Second Law: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to
the net force acting on it and is inversely proportional to its mass.
The direction of the acceleration is in the direction of the net force
acting on the object.
 Third Law: Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object,
the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first.
 PHYS1101

Newton’s Laws of Motion

 Isaac Newton changed the face of mechanics and science forever

when in the Principia (1687) he outlined three laws of motion.
 Second Law: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to
the net force acting on it, and is inversely proportional to its mass.
The direction of the acceleration is in the direction of the net force
acting on the object.

a=
∑ F
m
∑ F = ma
∑ F = 0 : object not accelerated
∑ F ≠ 0 : object accelerated
5-1 Newton's First and Second Laws

 Characteristics of forces:
o Unit: N, the newton; 1 N = 1 kg m/s2
o Acceleration of a mass is proportional to the exerted force
o Forces are vectors
 Net force is the vector sum of all forces on an object
 Principle of superposition for forces:
o A net force has the same impact as a single force with identical
magnitude and direction
o So we can restate more correctly:

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

5-1 Newton's First and Second Laws

 As an equation, we write:

 Identify the body in question, and only include forces that act on that body!
 Separate the problem axes (they are independent):

Eq. (5-1)

Eq. (5-2)

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

 PHYS1101

Newton’s Third Law

These are free-body diagrams!!

A free-body diagram is a drawing of all external forces acting on a body.
5-2 Some Particular Forces

 The normal force:

o If you are standing on a surface, the push back on you from the
surface (due to deformation) is the normal force
o Normal means perpendicular

Figure 5-7
5-2 Some Particular Forces

Example Normal force for a block resting on a horizontal

surface that is:
o Accelerating vertically at ay:
o Vertically at rest:

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
 PHYS1101

Newton’s Second and Third Law

Normal Force FN: contact

force, acts perpendicular
to the common surface
of contact

∑F box =0
 PHYS1101

Newton’s Second and Third Law

∑F box =0 ∑F box =?
 PHYS1101

New ton’s Second and Third Law

∑F box =0 ∑F box =0
 PHYS1101

New ton’s Second and Third Law

FN = ? FN = ?
 PHYS1101

New ton’s Second and Third Law

FN = mg FN = mg + 40 N
 PHYS1101

New ton’s Second and Third Law

∑F box =0 ∑F box =0
 PHYS1101

New ton’s Second and Third Law

∑F box =0 ∑F box =?
 PHYS1101

New ton’s Second and Third Law

∑F box =0 ∑F box ≠0
 PHYS1101

Newton’s Second and Third Law

When the elevator

accelerates
downwards, does
the reading of the
scale

a) increase?
b) decrease?
 PHYS1101

Newton’s Second and Third Law

∑F box = ma
assume a = 0.2g
FN − mg = m. − ay
= − m ⋅ 0.2g
FN = m(1 - 0.2 )g = 0.8mg
The apparent weight is less than the true weight!

If the elevator is in free fall, then ay=-g and the

apparent weight of the unfortunate is zero!!!
 PHYS1101

Interactive Question 13:

You are standing on a bathroom scale in an elevator. In which of these situations must
be the scale read the same as when the elevator is at rest?

(a) Moving up with constant speed.

(b) Moving up with increased speed.
(c) In free fall (after the elevator cable has snapped).
 PHYS1101

Interactive Question 14:

A 70 -kg man stands on a bathroom scale in an elevator. What does the scale read if
the elevator is slowing down at a rate of 3 m/s2 while descending?

(a) 70 kg
(b) 476 N
(c) 686 N
(d) 700 N
(e) 896 N