Laws of

Motion
NCERT Solutions

Examples
Page - 52

Example 4.1 : An astronaut accidentally gets separated out of his small

spaceship accelerating in inter stellar space at a constant rate of 100 m s–
2. What is the acceleration of the astronaut the instant after he is outside
the spaceship ? (Assume that there are no nearby stars to exert gravitational
force on him.)
Answer:
Since there are no nearby stars to exert gravitational force on him and the
small spaceship exerts negligible gravitational attraction on him, the net force
acting on the astronaut, once he is out of the spaceship, is zero. By the first
law of motion the acceleration of the astronaut is zero
Page - 55

Example 4.2 : A bullet of mass 0.04 kg moving with a speed of 90 m s⁻¹

enters a heavy wooden block and is stopped after a distance of 60 cm. What
is the average resistive force exerted by the block on the bullet?
Answer:
The retardation ‘a’ of the bullet (assumed constant) is given by

The retarding force, by the second law of motion, is

= 0.04 kg × 6750 m s⁻² = 270 N

The actual resistive force, and therefore, retardation of the bullet may not be
uniform. The answer therefore, only indicates the average resistive force.
 Page - 55

Example 4.3 : The motion of a particle of mass m is described by y = ut + ½

gt² . Find the force acting on the particle.
Answer:

We know,
y = ut + 1/2 gt²
Now,
v = dy/dt = u + gt
acceleration, a = dv/dt = g
Then the force is given by
F = ma = mg
Thus the given equation describes the motion of a particle under acceleration
due to gravity and y is the position coordinate in the direction of g.

Page - 56

Example 4.4 A batsman hits back a ball straight in the direction of the bowler
without changing its initial speed of 12 ms⁻¹ . If the mass of the ball is 0.15 kg,
determine the impulse imparted to the ball. (Assume linear motion of the
ball)
Answer:

Change in momentum = 0.15 × 12–(–0.15×12) = 3.6 N s

Impulse = 3.6 N s, in the direction from the batsman to the bowler.

Page - 57

Example 4.5 : Two identical billiard balls strike a rigid wall with the same
speed but at different angles, and get reflected without any change in speed,
as shown in Fig. 4.6. What is (i) the direction of the force on the wall due to
each ball? (ii) the ratio of the magnitudes of impulses imparted to the balls
by the wall ?
Answer:
Case (i)

Impulse is the change in momentum vector

x-component of impulse = −2mu
y-component of impulse =0
Case (ii)

Page - 58
Example 4.6 : See Fig. 4.8. A mass of 6 kg is suspended by a rope of length 2
m from the ceiling. A force of 50 N in the horizontal direction is applied at
the midpoint P of the rope, as shown. What is the angle the rope makes with
the vertical in equilibrium ? (Take g = 10 ms⁻²). Neglect the mass of the rope.
Answer:
Figures 4.8(b) and 4.8(c) are known as free-body diagrams. Figure 4.8(b) is
the free-body diagram of W and Fig. 4.8(c) is the free-body diagram of point
P.
Consider the equilibrium of the weight W.
Clearly, T₂ = 6 × 10 = 60 N.
Consider the equilibrium of the point P under the action of three forces -
the tensions T₁ and T₂ , and the horizontal force 50 N. The horizontal and
vertical components of the resultant force must vanish separately :
T₁ cos θ = T₂ = 60 N
T₁ sin θ = 50 N
which gives that

Page - 61

Example 4.7 : Determine the maximum acceleration of the train in which a

box lying on its floor will remain stationary, given that the co-efficient of
static friction between the box and the train’s floor is 0.15.
Answer:
Since the acceleration of the box is due to the static friction,

Page - 61

Example 4.8 : See Fig. 4.11. A mass of 4 kg rests on a horizontal plane. The
plane is gradually inclined until at an angle θ = 15° with the horizontal, the
mass just begins to slide. What is the coefficient of static friction between
the block and the surface ?
Answer:
Resolving the weight mg along the two directions shown, we have

Page - 61

Example 4.9 : What is the acceleration of the block and trolley system shown
in a Fig. 4.12(a), if the coefficient of kinetic friction between the trolley and
the surface is 0.04? What is the tension in the string? (Take g = 10 ms⁻²).
Neglect the mass of the string.
 Answer:
As the string is inextensible, and the pully is smooth, the 3 kg block and the 20
kg trolley both have same magnitude of acceleration. Applying second law to
motion of the block (Fig. 4.12(b)),
30 – T = 3a
Apply the second law to motion of the trolley (Fig. 4.12(c)),

Page - 64

Example 4.10 : A cyclist speeding at 18 km/h on a level road takes a sharp

circular turn of radius 3 m without reducing the speed. The co-efficient of
static friction between the tyres and the road is 0.1. Will the cyclist slip while
taking the turn?
Answer:
On an unbanked road, frictional force alone can provide the centripetal force
needed to keep the cyclist moving on a circular turn without slipping. If the
speed is too large, or if the turn is too sharp (i.e. of too small a radius) or both,
the frictional force is not sufficient to provide the necessary centripetal force,
and the cyclist slips. The condition for the cyclist not to slip is given by the eq,
v² ≤ µs R g
 Page - 64

Example 4.11 : A circular racetrack of radius 300 m is banked at an angle of

15°. If the coefficient of friction between the wheels of a race-car and the
road is 0.2, what is the (a) optimum speed of the racecar to avoid wear and
tear on its tyres, and (b) maximum permissible speed to avoid slipping ?
Answer:
On a banked road, the horizontal component of the normal force and the
frictional force contribute to provide centripetal force to keep the car moving
on a circular turn without slipping. At the optimum speed, the normal
reaction’s component is enough to provide the needed centripetal force, and
the frictional force is not needed. The optimum speed vₒ is given by

Page - 65

Example 4.12 : See Fig. 4.15. A wooden block of mass 2 kg rests on a soft
horizontal floor. When an iron cylinder of mass 25 kg is placed on top of the
block, the floor yields steadily and the block and the cylinder together go
down with an acceleration of 0.1 ms⁻². What is the action of the block on the
floor (a) before and (b) after the floor yields ? Take g = 10 ms⁻². Identify the
action-reaction pairs in the problem.
Answer:

(a) The block is at rest on the floor. Its free-body diagram shows two forces on
the block, the force of gravitational attraction by the earth equal to 2 × 10 =
20 N; and the normal force R of the floor on the block. By the First Law, the
net force on the block must be zero i.e., R = 20 N. Using third law the action of
the block (i.e. the force exerted on the floor by the block) is equal to 20 N and
directed vertically downwards.
(b) The system (block + cylinder) accelerates downwards with 0.1 m s⁻². The
free-body diagram of the system shows two forces on the system : the force
of gravity due to the earth (270 N); and the normal force R′ by the floor. Note,
the free-body diagram of the system does not show the internal forces
between the block and the cylinder. Applying the second law to the system,
270 – R′ = 27 × 0.1 N
ie. R′ = 267.3 N
 Exercises

Question 1 : Give the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on
(a) a drop of rain falling down with a constant speed,
(b) a cork of mass 10 g floating on water,
(c) a kite skilfully held stationary in the sky,
(d) a car moving with a constant velocity of 30 km/h on a rough road,
(e) a high-speed electron in space far from all material objects, and free of
electric and magnetic fields.
Answer:

(a) As the drop of rain is falling with constant speed, in accordance with the
first law of motion, the net force on the drop of rain is zero.
(b) As the cork is floating on water, its weight is being balanced by the upthrust
(equal to the weight of water displaced). Hence, the net force on the cork is
zero.
(c) The net force on a kite skilfully held stationary in the sky is zero because it
is at rest.
(d) Since the car is moving with a constant velocity, the net force on the car is
zero.
(e) Since the electron is far away from all material agencies producing
electromagnetic and gravitational forces, the net force on the electron is zero.
Question 2 : A pebble of mass 0.05 kg is thrown vertically upwards. Give the
direction and magnitude of the net force on the pebble,
(a) during its upward motion, .
(b) during its downward motion,
(c) at the highest point where it is momentarily at rest. Do your answers
change if the pebble was thrown at an angle of 45° with the horizontal
direction?
Ignore air resistance.

Answer:
(a) When the pebble is moving upward, the acceleration g is acting downward,
so the force is acting downward is equal to F = mg = 0.05 kg x 10 ms⁻² = 0.5
N.
(b) In this case also F = mg = 0.05 x 10 = 0.5 N. (downwards).
(c) The pebble is not at rest at highest point but has horizontal component of
velocity. The direction and magnitude of the net force on the pebble will not
alter even if it is thrown at 45° because no other acceleration except ‘g’ is
acting on pebble.

Question 3 : Give the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on a
stone of mass 0.1 kg,
(a) just after it is dropped from the window of a stationary train,
(b) just after it is dropped from the window of a train running at a constant
velocity of 36 km/ h,
(c) just after it is dropped from the window of a train accelerating with 1
ms⁻²,
(d) lying on the floor of a train which is accelerating with 1 ms⁻², the stone
being at rest relative to the train. Neglect air resistance throughout.

Answer:
(a) Mass of stone = 0.1 kg
Net force, F = mg = 0.1 x 10 = 1.0 N. (vertically downwards).
(b) When the train is running at a constant velocity, its acceleration is zero. No
force acts on the stone due to this motion. Therefore, the force on the stone is
the same (1.0 N).
(c) The stone will experience an additional force F’ (along horizontal) i.e.,
F = ma = 0.1 x 1 = 0.1 N
As the stone is dropped, the force F’ no longer acts and the net force acting
on the stone F = mg = 0.1 x 10 = 1.0 N. (vertically downwards).

(d) As the stone is lying on the floor of the train, its acceleration is same as
that of the train.
∴ Force acting on the stone, F = ma = 0.1 x 1 = 0.1 N.
Question 4 : One end of a string of length l is connected to a particle of
mass m and the other to a small peg on a smooth horizontal table. If the
particle moves in a circle with speed v the net force on the particle (directed
towards the centre) is:
(i) T, (ii) T – mv²/l, (iii) T + mv²/l, (iv) 0
T is the tension in the string. [Choose the correct alternative].
Answer:
The correct alternative is (i) T
The net force T on the particle is directed towards the centre. It provides the
centripetal force required by the particle to move along a circle.

Question 5 : A constant retarding force of 50 N is applied to a body of mass

20 kg moving initially with a speed of 15 ms⁻¹. How long does the body take to
stop?
Answer:

Here m = 20 kg, F = – 50 N (retardation force)

As F = ma

Question 6 : A constant force acting on a body of mass 3.0 kg changes its

speed from 2.0 ms⁻¹ to 3.5 ms⁻¹ in 25 s. The direction of the motion of the
body remains unchanged. What is the magnitude and direction of the force?
Answer:
Question 7 : A body of mass 5 kg is acted upon by two perpendicular forces
8 N and 6 N. Give the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the
body.
Answer:

Question 8 : The driver of a three-wheeler moving with a speed of 36 km/h

sees a child standing in the middle of the road and brings his vehicle to rest
in 4.0 s just in time to save the child. What is the average retarding force on
the vehicle? The mass of the three-wheeler is 400 kg and the mass of the
driver is 65 kg.
Answer:

Here mass of three-wheeler m₁ = 400 kg, mass of driver = m₂ = 65 kg,

initial speed of auto,
u = 36 km/h = 36 x — m/s 10 ms⁻¹, final speed, v – 0 and t = 4s

Question 9 : A rocket with a lift-off mass 20,000 kg is blasted upwards with

an initial acceleration of 5.0 ms⁻². Calculate the initial thrust (force) of the
blast.
Answer:
Here, m = 20000 kg = 2 x 10⁴ kg
Initial acceleration = 5 ms⁻²
Clearly, the thrust should be such that it overcomes the force of gravity
besides giving it an upward acceleration of 5 ms-2.
Thus the force should produce a net acceleration of 9.8 + 5.0 = 14.8 ms⁻²
Since, thrust = force = mass x acceleration
F = 2 x 10⁴ x 14.8 = 2.96 x 10⁵ N.

Question 10 : A body of mass 0.40 kg moving initially with a constant speed

of 10 ms⁻¹ to the north is subject to a constant force of 8.0 N directed
towards the south for 30 s. Take the instant the force is applied to be t = 0,
the position of the body at that time to be x = 0, and predict its position at t =
-5 s, 25 s, 100 s.
Answer:
Question 11 : A truck starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2.0 ms-2.
At t = 10 s, a stone is dropped by a person standing on the top of the truck (6
m high from the ground). What are the (a) velocity, and (b) acceleration of
the stone at t = 11s? (Neglect air resistance.)
Answer:

u = 0, a = 2 ms⁻², t 10 s
Using equation, v = u + at, we get
v = 0 + 2 x 10 = 20 ms⁻¹
(a) Let us first consider horizontal motion. The only force acting on the stone
is force of gravity which acts vertically downwards.
Its horizontal component is zero. Moreover, air resistance is to be neglected.
So, horizontal motion is uniform motion.
∴ vx = v = 20 ms⁻¹
Let us now consider vertical motion which is controlled by force of gravity.
u=0, a = g = 10 ms⁻², t = (11 — 10) s = 1 s
(b) The moment the stone is dropped from the car, horizontal force on the
stone is zero. The only acceleration of the stone is that due to gravity. This
gives a vertically downward acceleration of 10 ms⁻². This is also the net
acceleration of the stone.

Question 12 : A bob of mass 0.1 kg hung from the ceiling of a room by a

string 2 m long is set into oscillation.
The speed of the bob at its mean position is 1 ms⁻¹. What is the trajectory of
the bob if the string is cut when the bob is (a) at one of its extreme positions,
(b) at its mean position ?

Answer:

Let the bob be oscillating as shown in the figure.

(a) When the bob is at its extreme position (say B), then its velocity is zero.
Hence on cutting the string the bob will fall vertically downward under the
force of its weight F = mg
(b) When the bob is at its mean position (say A), it has a horizontal velocity of v
= 1 ms⁻¹ and on cutting the string it will experience an acceleration a = g =
10 ms⁻² in vertical downward direction. Consequently, the bob will behave like
a projectile and will fall on ground after describing a parabolic path

Question 13 : A man of mass 70 kg, stands on a weighing machine in a lift,

which is moving
(a) upwards with a uniform speed of 10 ms⁻¹.
(b) downwards with a uniform acceleration of 5 ms⁻².
(c) upwards with a uniform acceleration of 5 ms⁻².
What would be the readings on the scale in each case?
(d) What would be the reading if the lift mechanism failed and it hurtled
down freely under gravity?
Answer:

Here, m = 70 kg, g = 10 ms⁻²

The weighing machine in each case measures the reaction R i.e., the
apparent weight.
(a) When the lift moves upwards with a uniform speed, its acceleration is zero.
R = mg = 70 x 10 = 700 N
(b) When the lift moves downwards with a = 5 ms⁻²
R = m (g – a) = 70 (10 – 5) = 350 N
(c) When the lift moves upwards with a = 5 ms⁻²
R = m (g + a) = 70 (10 + 5) = 1050 N
(d) If the lift were to come down freely under gravity, downward acc. a = g
∴ R = m(g -a) = m(g-g) = Zero.

Question 14 : Figure shows the position-time graph of a particle of mass 4

kg. What is the (a) force on the particle for t < 0, t > 4 s, 0 < t < 4 s?
(b) impulse at t = 0 and t = 4 s? (Consider one-dimensional motion only).
Answer:

Question 15 : Two bodies of masses 10 kg and 20 kg respectively kept on a

smooth, horizontal surface are tied to the ends of a tight string. A horizontal
force F = 600 N is applied to (i) A, (ii) B along the direction of string. What is
the tension in the string in each case?
Answer:
Question 16 : Two masses 8 kg and 12 kg are connected at the two ends of a
light in extensible string that goes over a friction less pulley. Find the
acceleration of the masses, and the tension in the string when the masses
are released.
Answer:

Question 17 : A nucleus is at rest in the laboratory frame of reference. Show

that if it disintegrates into two smaller nuclei the products must move in
opposite directions.
Answer:
Let m₁, m₂ be the masses of products and v1,v2 be their respective velocities.
Therefore, total linear momentum after disintegration = m1v1 +m2 v2.
Before disintegration, the nucleus is at rest.
Therefore, its linear momentum before disintegration is zero.
According to the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

Negative sign shows that v1 and v2 are in opposite directions.

Question 18 : Two billiard balls, each of mass 0.05 kg, moving in opposite
directions with speed 6 m/s collide and rebound with the same speed. What
is the impulse imparted to each ball due to the other?
Answer:
nitial momentum of each ball before collision
= 0.05 x 6 kg m/s = 0.3 kg m/s
Final momentum of each ball after collision
= – 0.05 x 6 kg m/s = – 0.3 kg m/s
Impulse imparted to each ball due to the other
= final momentum – initial momentum = 0.3 kg m/s – 0.3 kg m/s
= – 0.6 kg m/s = 0.6 kg m/s (in magnitude)
The two impulses are opposite in direction.

Question 19 : A shell of mass 0.020 kg is fired by a gun of mass 100 kg. If the
muzzle speed of the shell is 80 ms⁻¹ what is the recoil speed of the gun?
Answer:
Given, m = 0.02 kg, M = 100 kg, v = 80 m/s, V = ?

Negative sign indicates that the gun moves in a direction opposite to the
direction of motion of the bullet.

Question 20 : A batsman deflects a ball by an angle of 45° without changing

its initial speed which is equal to 54 km/h. What is the impulse imparted to
the ball? (Mass of the ball is 0.15 kg.)

Answer:

Suppose the point O as the position of bat. AO line shows the path along
which the ball strikes the bat with velocity u and OB is the path showing
deflection such that ∠AOB = 45°.
Question 21 : A stone of mass 0.25 kg tied to the end of a string is whirled
round in a circle of radius 1.5 m with a speed of 40 rev./min in a horizontal
plane. What is the tension in the string? What is the maximum speed with
which the stone can be whirled around if the string can withstand a maximum
tension of 200 N?
Answer:
Question 22 : If, in Exercise 4.21, the speed of the stone is increased beyond
the maximum permissible value, and the string breaks suddenly, which of the
following correctly describes the trajectory of the stone after the string
breaks:
(a) the stone moves radially outwards,
(b) the stone flies off tangentially from the instant the string breaks,
(c) the stoneflies off at an angle with the tangent whose magnitude depends
on the speed of the particle?
Answer:

(b) The velocity is tangential at each point of circular motion. At the time the
string breaks, the particle continues to move in the tangential direction
according to Newton’s first law of motion.

Question 23 : Explain why

(a) a horse cannot pull a cart and run in empty space,
(b) passengers are thrown forward from their seats when a speeding bus
stops suddenly,
(c) it is easier to pull a lawn mower than to push it,
(d) a cricketer moves his hands backwards while holding a catch.

Answer:

(a) A horse by itself cannot move in space due to law of inertia and so cannot
pull a cart in space.

(b) The passengers in a speeding bus have inertia of motion. When the bus is
suddenly stopped the passengers are thrown forward due to this inertia of
motion.

(c) In the case of pull, the effective weight is reduced due to the vertical
component of the pull. In the case of push, the vertical component increases
the effective weight.

(d) The ball comes with large momentum after being hit by the batsman.
When the player takes catch it causes large impulse on his palms which may
hurt the cricketer. When he moves his hands backward the time of contact of
ball and hand is increased so the force is reduced.