Chapter 4

Force and Motion

Important Terms:

Force = something that is capable of changing an object’s state of motion

Net (Unbalanced) Force = is the vector sum or resultant of all the force acting on an
object or system.

Inertia = the natural tendency of an object to maintain a state of rest or to remain in

uniform motion in a straight line

Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia) = in the absence of an unbalanced

applied force, a body at rest remains at rest and a body already in motion remains in
motion with a constant velocity

Newton (unit) = the SI unit of force

Newton’s Second Law of Motion (Cause and Effect) = The acceleration of an object is
directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
The direction of the acceleration is in the direction of the applied net force.

Weight = the only net force acting on a body

Newton’s Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction) = For every force (action), there is
an equal and opposite force (reaction)

Normal Force = the force a surface exerts on an object

Free-body Diagram = represents an object as a particle or point sized mass and shows
all the forces acting on that particle.

Translational Equilibrium = the vector sum of the forces, or the net force is zero, so the
object either remains at rest or moves with a constant velocity

Force of Friction = refers to the resistance to motion that occurs whenever two materials
are in contact with each other.

Static Friction = the frictional force is sufficient to prevent relative motion between
surfaces

Kinetic (Sliding) Friction = occurs when there is a relative motion at the interface of the
surfaces in contact.
Rolling Friction = Occurs when one surface rotates as it moves over another surface but
does not slip or slide at the point or area of contact.

Coefficient of Static Friction = the ratio between the static frictional force and the
normal force

Coefficient of Kinetic Friction = the ratio between the kinetic frictional force and the
normal force

Air Resistance = resistance force acting on an object as it moves through air

Terminal Velocity = refers to the maximum constant velocity

Important Equations:

Newton’s Second Law

F=ma
Where: F = force
m = mass
a = acceleration

Weight
w=mg
Where w = weight
g = acceleration due to gravity, 9.81m/s2

Component Form of Newton’s Second Law

F X X + F Y Y =ma X X +maY Y

Condition for Translational Equilibrium

ΣF=0 , Σ F X =0 , Σ F Y =0

Force of Static Friction

f S =μ S N
Where: fS = static frictional force
μS = Coefficient of static friction
N = normal force

Force of Kinetic (Sliding) Friction

F K =μ K N
Where: fK = kinetic frictional force
μK = Coefficient of kinetic friction
N = normal force
Example 1: A tractor pulls a loaded wagon with a constant force of 440N. If the total
mass of the wagon and its contents is 275kg, what is the wagon’s acceleration?

Given:
F = 440N
m = 275kg a=?

Required:
F = 440N
a=? m = 275kg

Solution:
∑ F=ma
∑ F 440 N
a= = =1.6 m/s
m 275 kg

Example 2: A student weighs 588N. What is her mass?

Given:
W = 588N Solution:
W =mg
Required: −588 N=m(−9.81m/ s2 )
m=?

588 kg m/s 2
m= =59.9 kg
9.81 m/ s2
Example 3: Two blocks with masses 2.5kg and 3.5kg, rest on a frictionless surface and
are connected by a light string. A horizontal force of 12N is applied to the 2.5 kg. What
is the magnitude of the acceleration of the masses? What is the magnitude of the tensile
force in the string?
Given: F=12 N
m 1=2.5 kg
m 2=3.5 kg Required:
m T =6 kg a . a=?

b . T =?
Solution: 3.5kg 2.5kg
a . ∑ F=ma
12 N =(6)a
a=2 m/s2

b . F=ma 3.5kg
T =3.5 ( 2 )=7 N
Example 4: A block of mass 0.50kg travels with a speed of 2.0m/s in the x-direction on a
flat, frictionless surface. On passing through the origin, it experiences a constant force of
3.0N at an angle of 60o relative to the x-axis for 1.5s. What is the velocity of the block at
the end of this time?
Given: F
F=ma ; a=
m=0.5 kg m
V ix =2 m/s
F=3 N F x 1.5 2
aX= = =3 m/s
θ=60 ° m 0.5
t=1.5 s
F y 2.60 2
a y= = =5.2 m/ s
Required: m 0.5
V f =?
V fx =V ix + a X t=2+3 ( 1.5 )=6.5m/ s
Solution: V fy =V iy +a y t=5.2 ( 1.5 )=7.78 m/s
F y =3 sin 60=2.60 N
F x =3 cos 60=1.5 N

V f =√❑
Example 5: A car traveling at 72km/h along a straight, level road is brought uniformly to
a stop in a distance of 40.0m. If the car weighs 8.80 x 103N, what is the breaking force?

Given:
72 km 1hr 1000 m
V i= × × =20 m/ s
hr 3600 s 1 km
V f =0 m/s
d=40 m
W =8.80 x 103 N

Required:
F=?

Solution:
v f 2=v i2+2 ax 3.5kg
a
02 =202+ 2 a ( 40 ) F=?

−202 −400
a= = =−5 m/s 2
2(40) 80

∑ F=ma
W −8.80 ×103 N ( −5 m/s2 )
∑ F= a= =−4485.22 N
g −9.81 m/s 2

Example 6: The Atwood machine consists of two masses suspended from a fixed pulley
with 0.55kg and 0.80kg. What is the acceleration of the system? What is the magnitude
of the tension in the string? Consider the pulley to be frictionless and the masses of the
string and the pulley to be negligible.
Given:
9.81 m Required:
W 1=0.8 kg ×− =−7.84 N
s 2 a . a=?
9.81 m
W 2 =0.55 kg ×− =−5.40 N
s2
b . T =?Solution:
∑ F=ma a
T + W =ma a

T −5.40=0.55 a
T T

∑ F=ma
T + W =m(−a) 0.80kg
T −7.84=−0.80 a

(T −5.40=0.55 a)
0.55kg W1
−( T −7.84=−0.80 a) W2
2.44=1.35 a
a=1.81 m/s2

T =0.55 ( 1.81 ) +5.40=6.40 N

Example 7: A force of 15N is applied at an angle of 30 o to the horizontal on a 0.75kg

block at rest on a frictionless surface. What is the magnitude of the resulting acceleration
of the block? What is the magnitude of the normal force?
Given: Required:
F=15 N a=?
θ=30°
m=0.75 kg
N F=?
W
Solution: F = 15N
0.75kg θ =30o

a . ∑ F=ma Nf
15 cos 30=0.75 kg( a) ❑
15 cos 30 ∑ F y =0 ↑+¿ ¿
a= =17.32m/ s2
0.75 ❑
N F +W + F y =0
b . W =0.75 (−9.81 )=−7.36 N N F−7.36+ 7.5=0
F y =15 sin 30=7.5 N
N F=−7.5+ 7.36=−0.14 N Example 8: Two masses are connected by a light string
running over a light pulley of negligible friction. The 5kg is on a frictionless 20 o inclined
plane and the other, 1.15kg is freely suspended. What is the acceleration of the masses?
Given:
W 1=5 kg ( 9.81 )=49.05 N
W 1 x =49.05 sin 20=16.78
θ=20°
W 2 =1.15 ( 9.81 )=11.28 N
a
a
Required:
a=? T
g
5k
Solution:
∑ F=ma 1.15kg
−T + W x =5 a eqn .1 T

T −W 2 =1.15 a eqn .2 W2

Wx
(T −11.28=1.15 a)
+(−T + 16.78=5 a)
5.5=6.15 a
a=0.89 m/s 2

Example 9: A 3kg sign hangs in a wall in the room. What is the minimum tensile
strength necessary for the cord that is used to hang the sign?

Given:
m=3 kg
T T
Required:
T =?

Solution:
3kg
∑ F y =0
W
T + W =0
T =−W =−mg=−3 (−9.81 )=29.43 N
T =29.43 N

Example 10:
T1 T2

30o 30o

30o 30o

W
m = 100kg
∑ F x =0+ →
−T 1 x + T 2 x =0
−T 1 cos 30+ T 2 cos 30=0
T 1=T 2 eqn 1

∑ F y =0+↑
T 1 y +T 2 y −W =0
T 1 sin 30+T 2 sin 30=mg eqn 2
9.81m
2 T 1 sin 30=100 kg
( s2 )
T 1=T 2 =981 N

Example 11: If the coefficient of static friction between the 40kg crate and the floor is
0.65, with what horizontal force must the worker pull to move the crate? If the worker
maintains that force once the crate starts to move and the coefficient of kinetic friction
between the surfaces is 0.5, what is the magnitude of the acceleration of the crate?

Given:
W =40( 9.81)=392 N ¿ N f
μs =0.65
μk =0.5
40kg
a
Required: P=?
a . F=? fs
b . a=?

Solution:
F s=μ s N F
F s=0.65 ( 392.4 )=225.06 N=P a=?

F k =μ K N F =0.5 ( 392.4 )=196.2 N

40kg 40kg
P
∑ F=MA fk
fs
255.06−196.2=40 a
a=1.47 m/s 2

Example 12: A worker pulling a crate applies a force at an angle of 30 o to the horizontal.
How large a force must he apply to move the crate?
Given:
W =40 ( 9.81 )=392.4 N Required:
θ=30°
F=?
Solution:
∑ F y =0+↑
N f + W + P y =0 W
a
N f −392.4+ Psin 30=0 P=?
N f =392.4−Psin 30
θ = 30

F s=μ N F=0.65 ( 392.4−0.5 P ) 40kg

fs

∑ F=MA
∑ F h=0+→ NF
P X −F=0

Pcos 30−0.65 ( 392.4−Psin 30 ) =0

Pcos 30−255.06 +0.33 P=0
255.06
P= =213.26 N
cos 30+ 0.33

Example 13: A block slides with a constant velocity down a plane inclined at 37o to the
horizontal. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the plane?
Given: Required:
θ=37 °

μk =?Solution:
W =mg Wx
a
W x =mgsin 37 W
Wy
W Y =mgcos37=N f

F=μ N f =μmgcos37
∑ F X =0+→
W x −F=0
mgsin 37−μmgcos37=0 fs
μmgcos 37=sin 37 (mg) 37 o

mgsin 37 NF
μ=
mgcos 37
μ=tan 37=0.75

Name:
Course/Year/Sec:

1ST LAW : Solve for the tensions in the cables.

 1.

W=
T =W 100N

2.

30o
T 1=¿

100N

T 2=¿

3.

30o 40o

m = 200kg

T 1=¿
T 2=¿

2ND LAW EXAMPLES

Solve for the acceleration.
1.

10kg P = 100N
a=¿

2. T = 150N
15o
10kg P = 100N

a=¿

3.

T = 150N
a=¿ 15o
10kg P = 100N

4.
10k
g
10o
P = 100N

a=¿

5.
10k
g

P = 100N
10o
a=¿

6.
T = 50N

30o

10k
g
10o
P = 100N
a=¿

7.

T = 50N

a=¿ 30o

10k
g
10o
P = 100N

Friction: Solve for Normal Force, Frictional Force and Acceleration.

1.
μ = 0.15
Solution:

10kg P = 100N
N F=¿

F=¿

a=¿

2. μ = 0.1
L= 200N
15o

W = 100N P = 50N
N F=¿

F=¿

a=¿

3. μ = 0.09

10k
N F=¿ g
15o
P = 100N
F=¿

a=¿

4. μ = 0.2

T = 150N

20o

10k
g
N F=¿

F=¿

a=¿
 5. μ = 0.15

T = 350N
N F=¿
10o
F=¿
30k
g
P = 500N
15o

a=¿