FORCE AND

MOTION
NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION
Put simply, the FORCE is a push or pull influence that can change the
state of motion of an object.

An object will behave according to the NET FORCE.

⃗ net =∑ F
F ⃗ i= F
⃗ 1+ F
⃗ 2+ F
⃗ 3 +…
⃗3
F
i ⃗1
F
unit: 1 newton = 1 N = 1 kg·m/s2
1 dyne = 1 g·cm/s2 ⃗2
F

Be sure to use component method when analyzing forces or when

adding forces together, force being a vector quantity.
NEWTON’S FIRST LAW OF MOTION
If no net force acts on a body, the body’s velocity cannot change.
⃗ net =0 → ⃗v =constant
F ⃗ net =0 → ⃗a =0
F
→
⃗ net ≠0 → ⃗v ≠constant
F ⃗ net ≠0 → ⃗a ≠0
F

Thus the acceleration experienced by an object depends upon the net

force acting on the object.

NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION

This Second Law of Motion gives us the relationship between the net
force and acceleration.
m=constant → ⃗ net =m ⃗a
F
NEWTON’S THIRD LAW OF MOTION
For every ACTION, there is an equal but opposite REACTION.
For instance, a horse pulls a cart, applying force Faction on the cart. The
cart reacts, applying force Freaction on the horse.
⃗ action
F

⃗ reaction=− F
F ⃗ action

⃗ reaction
F
⃗ action = applied by the horse on the cart
F
⃗ reaction= applied by the cart on the horse
F
FORCE AND
MOTION
KINDS OF FORCES
Aside from APPLIED FORCE, force applied
by one object on another object, there are
different kinds of forces that you will ⃗ applied
F
encounter in your study of basic physics.

WEIGHT (W)
The force applied by Earth’s gravity on an object is
referred to as the object’s WEIGHT.
⃗ =m ⃗g
W
For locations on or near the surface of the Earth, the
acceleration due to gravity is give by: ⃗
W
2
⃗g =−9.8 m / s =constant
NORMAL FORCE (N)
When an object presses against a surface, the ⃗
N
surface reacts by applying a NORMAL
FORCE on the object to prevent the object
from passing through it.
The normal force is always
PERPENDICULAR OUTWARD with respect
to the surface. ⃗
W
⃗
N

⃗
W
FRICTION (f)
STATIC FRICTION (fs) arises to impending
oppose impending
impeding sliding motion. motion ⃗f s
0≤ f s≤ μ s N
for flat surfaces: 0≤ μ s ≤1
KINETIC FRICTION (fk) arises to
oppose existing sliding motion. ⃗v ≠0 ⃗f k
f k = μ k N =constant
for flat surfaces: 0≤ μ k ≤1
μ s = coefficient of static friction
N = normal force magnitude
μ k = coefficient of kinetic friction
TENSION (T)
When an object is stretched, it reacts and applies
TENSION, pulling at objects attached to its ends.

While any object may experience and apply

T⃗
tension, this force is particularly applicable for
strings, wires, cables, and similar objects.

⃗
W
 FORCE AND
MOTION
FIRST CONDITION OF
EQUILIBRIUM
A system or object is said to be in EQUILIBRIUM STATE if the net
force acting on it is zero.
⃗ net =0
F
⃗ net =0 → ⃗v =constant
F
→
⃗ net ≠0 → ⃗v ≠constant
F

A system in equilibrium has constant velocity. It is not accelerating.

• If the velocity is equal to zero, the system is in STATIC
EQUILIBRIUM.
• If the velocity is not equal to zero, the system is undergoing
UNIFORM MOTION.
Conversely, a system that is not in a state of equilibrium is an
ACCELERATING SYSTEM.
⃗ net =m ⃗a
F

Typically when doing force analysis, one of the first things you need to
determine is whether the system is in equilibrium or it if is an
accelerating system.
 FORCE AND
MOTION
NET FORCE ANALYSIS
Follow these steps when doing force analysis:
1. Draw the system if no drawing/diagram is provided by the
problem.
2. Identify the forces present in the system.
• Use the drawing of the system to help you identify the forces.
3. Draw the free-body diagram/s (FBDs).
• Basically a vector diagram, draw the forces and other relevant
vectors that are present in the system.
⃗ net =0 or F
4. Analyze the FBDs using either F ⃗ net =m ⃗a .

Don’t forget to use component method when adding forces together,

force being a vector quantity.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
A string is tied to Box A and passed over a
frictionless pulley. Box B is attached to the other
end of the string. Box A has a mass of 2.5 kg. If A
the coefficient of static friction between Box A
and the tabletop is 0.75, what is the maximum
mass that Box B can have and still have the B
system in equilibrium?

m A=2.5 kg → W A =m A g =24.5 N
μ s =0.75 ⃗
N
⃗f s T⃗
FBD 1 (Box A) A
⃗ net =0= W
F ⃗ + ⃗f s + T⃗
⃗ A+ N ⃗A
W T⃗
⃗ netx =0=0+0− f s +T → T = f s
F B
⃗ nety =0=−W A + N +0+0 → N =W A
F
⃗B
W
FBD 2 (Box B)
⃗ net =0=W
F ⃗ B + T⃗
⃗ netx =0=0+0
F
⃗ nety =0=−W B +T → T =W B =m B g
F
T T max
m B = → m Bmax =
g g
0≤ f s≤ μ s N → T max = f smax = μ s N = μ s W A
μ s W A 0.75(24.5)
m Bmax = = =1.875 kg
g 9.8
m Bmax =1.875 kg
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
A string is tied to Box A and passed over a
frictionless pulley. Box B is attached to the other
end of the string. Box A has a mass of 2.5 kg and
A
Box B has a mass of 3.0 kg. If the coefficient of
kinetic friction between Box A and the tabletop is
0.6, determine the acceleration of the system. B

m A =2.5 kg → W A=m A g=24.5 N

m B =3.0 kg → W B =m B g =29.4 N
μ k =0.6 ⃗
N
⃗f k T⃗ ⃗a
A
FBD 1 (Box A)
⃗ net =m A ⃗a =W
F ⃗ + ⃗f k + T⃗
⃗ A+ N T⃗
⃗A
W
⃗ netx =m A a=0+0− f k +T
F B ⃗a
T =m A a+ f k =m A a+ μ k N ⃗B
W
 ⃗ nety =0=−W A + N +0+0 → N =W A
F

FBD 2 (Box B)
⃗ net =m B ⃗a = W
F ⃗ B + T⃗
⃗ netx =0=0+0
F
F⃗ nety =−m B a=−W B +T → T =W B −m B a
m A a+ μ k N =W B −m B a → m A a+ μ k W A=W B −m B a
W B − μ k W A 29.4−0.6(24.5) 2
a= = =2.672727273 m/ s
m A +m B 2.5+3.0
2
a=2.673 m/ s
FORCE AND
MOTION
MORE EXAMPLES
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
A bust of mass 5.0 kg is suspended by three
strings as shown in the figure. The tension in the
left string is 23.1 N. Determine the tension in the 450 450
middle string.

m=5.0 kg → W =mg=49.0 N
T 1 =23.1 N
T 2 =?

F⃗ net =0=W
⃗ + T⃗ 1 + T⃗ 2 + T⃗ 3
⃗ netx =0=0−T 1 sin 45+0+T 3 sin 45
F T⃗ 2
T⃗ 1 450 450 T⃗ 3
→T 3=T 1
⃗ nety =0=−W +T 1 cos 45+T 2 +T 3 cos 45
F
0=−W +T 1 cos 45+T 2 +T 1 cos 45
⃗
W
 T 2=W −2 T 1 cos 45
T 2=49−2(23.1)cos 45
T 2 =16.3316671 N
T 2 =16.332 N
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
A box is sliding along a slippery, horizontal floor
at a constant speed of 3.0 m/s. It encounters a
rough patch on the floor. If the coefficient of 3.0 m/s
kinetic friction between the box and rough patch
is 0.5, determine how far the box will travel
before coming to a stop. The mass of the box is
1.5 kg.

m=1.5 kg →W =mg=14.7 N
μ k =0.5
⃗a ⃗
N
⃗v 0 =3.0 m / s
⃗v =0 ⃗f k 3.0 m/s
x=?
⃗ net =m ⃗a =W
F ⃗ + ⃗f k
⃗ +N ⃗
W
⃗ netx =−ma=0+0− f k
F
 ma= f k = μ k N
μk N
a=
m
⃗ nety =0=−W + N +0 → N =W
F
μ k W 0.5(14.7) 2
a= = =4.9 m/ s
m 1.5
2
⃗a =−4.9 m/ s
2 2 2
v =v 0 +2 ⃗a ⃗x → 0=(3.0) −2(4.9) x
9.0
x= =0.9183673469 m
9.8

x=0.918 m