WHY DO

OBJECTS
MOVE?
 Which is harder:
to start moving for
your dreams or to
keep on moving in
order to reach it?
At the end of the session, you are expected to:
1. differentiate the properties of static friction and kinetic friction
2. compare the magnitude of sought quantities such as frictional
force, normal force, acceleration, and
3. apply Newton’s 2nd law and kinematics to obtain quantitative and
qualitative conclusions about the velocity and acceleration of one
or more bodies, and the contact and noncontact forces acting on
one or more bodies.
• The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the
net force acting on it, and inversely proportional to the mass
of the object.

• The SI unit for force is the Newton (N).

1 N = 1 kg·m/s2
•When a body
rests or slides on
a surface, the
friction force is
parallel to the
surface.
•Friction between
two surfaces
arises from
interactions
between
molecules on the
surfaces.
• Before the box slides, static friction acts. But once it
starts to slide, kinetic friction acts.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

You will find that first step difficult to take.

But, once you overcome what’s holding you back, you’ll
be able to move forward with relative ease.
 PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGY
1. Identify the forces affecting the object and draw a Free-body Diagram.
- Make sure that forces with angles are broken down into x- and y- components.
2. If the object moves from rest, comes to a stop, speeds up, or slows
down, then write the usable equations based on the situation:
Σ𝑭x = m𝒂𝒙 (total force on x-axis = mass * acceleration)
Σ𝑭𝐲 = m𝒂𝒚 (total force on y-axis = mass * acceleration)
3. Choose the axis with one unknown variable.
4. Solve for the required value/s. The SI Unit of force is N or kg•m/s2.
 Problem #1 : Newton’s Laws of Motion for Accelerating Objects
A light rope is attached to a block with mass 8.00 kg that rests on a
frictionless, horizontal surface. The horizontal rope passes over a frictionless,
massless pulley, and a block with mass m is suspended from the other end.
When the blocks are released, its acceleration is equal to 5.4 m/s2. What is the
tension force exerted by the rope on either block?
FBD of the 8.00 kg box FBD of the box with mass 𝑤m
 𝑚
Given: m= 8.00 kg 𝑎Ԧ = 5.4 2
𝑠
Find: 𝑇
Solve:

Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎Ԧ
T = m𝑎Ԧ
𝑚
T = (8.00 kg) (5.4 2)
𝑠
𝑚
T = (8.00 kg) (5.4 2)
𝑠
𝒎
T = 43.20 kg 𝟐 or 43.20 N
𝒔
 Problem #2 : Friction

A box of bananas weighing 40.0 N rests on a horizontal surface. The coefficient of

static friction between the box and the surface is 0.40, and the coefficient of kinetic
friction is 0.20.
(a) If no horizontal force is applied to the box and the box is at rest, how large is the
friction force exerted on it?
(b) What minimum horizontal force must the monkey apply to start the box in
motion?
(c) What minimum horizontal force must the monkey apply to keep the box
moving at constant velocity?
(d) If the monkey applies a horizontal force of 18.0 N, what is the magnitude of the
friction force and what is the box’s acceleration?
(a) If no horizontal force is applied to the box and the box is at rest, how large is
the friction force exerted on it?
• Since the box is at rest and there is no horizontal force acting on it, then there
is no friction exerted on it.
(b) What minimum horizontal force must the monkey apply to get the box
moving?
• The minimum horizontal force to get the box moving
is equal to the maximum static friction force.
𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒇𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒙

𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒇𝑺 𝒎𝒂𝒙 = μ𝒔𝒏 where n = w = 40.0 N

𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = (0.40)(40.0 𝑁)
𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 16.00 𝑁
(c) What minimum horizontal force must the monkey apply to keep the box
moving at constant velocity?
• The minimum horizontal force to keep the moving
box moving is equal to the kinetic friction force.
𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒇𝑲

𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒇𝑲 = μ𝑲𝒏 where n = w = 40.0 N

𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = (0.20)(40.0 𝑁)
𝑭𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝑵
(d) If the monkey applies a horizontal force of 18.0 N, what is the magnitude of
the friction force and what is the box’s acceleration?
1. Since the maximum static friction is 16 N, applying 18.0 N
of force will accelerate the box from rest.
2. Since the box is moving, it will experience kinetic friction
𝒇𝒌 = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟎 𝐍
𝒘 40 𝑁
m= = 𝑚 = 4.0816 kg
𝒈 9.8 𝑠2

Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎Ԧ
−𝐅 + 𝒇𝒌 = m𝒂
− 18 N + 8.00 N = 4.0816 kg (𝒂)
− 10 N = 4.0816 kg (𝒂)
𝒎
𝒂 = − 2.450 𝟐
𝒔
Problem #3: Newton’s Laws of Motion for Accelerating Objects

An 85-N box of oranges is being pushed across a horizontal floor. As it moves, it

is slowing at a constant rate of 0.90 m/s2. The push force has a horizontal
component of 20N and a vertical component of 25N downward. Calculate the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and floor.
GIVEN:
85 𝑁
𝑤 = 85 N, thereforem = 𝑚 = 8.673 𝑘𝑔 𝑎Ԧ = − 0.90 m/s2
9.8 𝑠2

𝐹𝑥 = 20N 𝐹𝑦 =25N

FIND: μK (coefficient of kinetic friction)

SOLVE:
Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎Ԧ
𝐹𝑥 + (−𝑓𝐾) = m𝑎Ԧ
𝐹𝑥 − m𝑎Ԧ = 𝑓𝐾
𝑓𝐾 = 20 N − (8.673 kg)(−0.90 m/s2)
𝒇𝑲 = 27.81 N
Since we want to solve for the
coefficient of kinetic friction,
and with the friction force we
have solved earlier, we need to
solve for the normal force, next.
 𝑤 = 85 N 𝐹𝑦 =25N 𝒇𝑲 = 27.81 N

Σ𝐹Ԧ y = 0
−𝑤 − 𝐹𝑦 + 𝑛 = 0
𝑛 = 𝑤 + 𝐹𝑦
𝑛 = 85 𝑁 + 25 N
𝑛 = 110 𝑁

Finally, we can now solve for 𝑓𝐾 = μKn

the μK. 𝑓𝐾 27.81N
μK = =
n 110N
μK = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟐𝟖
 Problem #4: Newton’s Laws of Motion for Accelerating Objects
A small rocket with a total mass 125 kg before liftoff
has an engine that produces a constant vertical force
(thrust) of 1720 N. In the cargo bay of this rocket is a
15.5-N satellite.
(a) Find the acceleration of the rocket immediately
after liftoff.
(b) During liftoff, how hard does the floor of the
cargo bay push on the satellite?
(c) The satellite can only tolerate a maximum of 30.0
N of normal force. Will the satellite be damaged?
mrocket = 125 kg Fthrust = 1720 N

(a) Σ𝐹Ԧ y = mrocket𝑎Ԧ 𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡

𝐹𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 − 𝑤 = mr𝑎Ԧ 𝑟
Fthrust − mg = mr𝑎Ԧ 𝑟
Fthrust − mg
= 𝑎Ԧ 𝑟
m𝑟
1720 N − (125 kg)(9.8 m/s2)
𝑎Ԧ 𝑟 =
125 kg
𝒂𝒓 = 3.98 m/s2
𝑤𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 15.5 N msat =1.582 kg
Since the rocket and the satellite move together,
𝑎Ԧ 𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 = 𝑎Ԧ 𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 3.98 m/s2

(b) Σ𝐹Ԧ y = m𝑎Ԧ

n − wsat = msatasat
n = msata𝑠𝑎𝑡 + wsat
n = 1.582 kg 3.98 m/s2 + 15.5 N
𝐧 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟖𝟎 𝐍

(c) Since the normal force is less than 30 N, the

satellite will not be damaged.
 Problem #5 : Newton’s Laws
An 8.00-kg block of ice, released from rest at the top of a 1.50-m-long frictionless
ramp, slides downhill, reaching a speed of 2.50 m/s at the bottom.
a) What is the angle between the ramp and the horizontal?
b) What would be the speed of the ice at the bottom if the motion were opposed by a
constant friction force of 10.0 N parallel to the surface of the ramp?
a) What is the angle between
the ramp and the horizontal?
normal force
n

weight
mg
FBD of ice Given:
m= 8.00 kg Δ𝑥Ԧ = -1.50 m
𝑣Ԧ 0= 0 m/s 𝑣Ԧ = -2.50 m/s

Find: (a) Φ

Solve:
• Solve for acceleration first.
𝑣Ԧ 2 = 𝑣Ԧ 02 + 2𝑎(Δ
Ԧ 𝑥Ԧ )

𝑣 2 − 𝑣 02 (−2.50 m/s)2 − (0m/s)2

𝑎Ԧ = =
2Δ𝑥Ԧ 2(−1.50m)
𝒂 = −0.02083 m/s2
Note: It makes sense that the acceleration is negative because
the block of ice starts from rest and moves to the left of the
surface of the ramp, based on the illustration.
FBD of ice

• Solve Φ using Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎.

Ԧ

Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎Ԧ
− mgsinΦ = m𝒂
𝑚 𝑚
− (8.00 kg)(9.8 2)sinΦ = (8.00 kg)(−0.02083 2 )
𝑠 𝑠
− 78.4 N sinΦ = −0.16664 N
−78.5 N −78.4 N
sinΦ = 0.00212551
Φ = sin-1(0.00212551)
Φ = 0.1218o
(b) What would be the speed
of the ice at the bottom if
the motion were opposed by
a constant friction force of normal force
10.0 N parallel to the surface n
of the ramp?

friction force
𝛼 f

weight
mg
FBD of ice with friction Given:
m= 8.00 kg 𝑓=Ԧ 10N
Φ = 0.1218o
𝑣Ԧ 0 = 0 m/s Δ𝑥Ԧ = -1.50 m
Find: (b) 𝑣Ԧ

• Solve 𝑎Ԧ using Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎.

Ԧ
Σ𝐹Ԧ 𝑥 = m𝑎Ԧ
− mgsinΦ + f = m𝒂
𝑚
− (8.00 kg)(9.8 2)sin (0.1218o) + 10N = (8.00kg) 𝑎Ԧ
𝑠
− 9.8333 kg•m/s2 = (8.00 kg) 𝑎Ԧ
8.00 kg 8.00 kg
𝒎
− 1.229 𝟐 = 𝒂
𝒔
FBD of ice with friction

• Solve 𝑣Ԧ using UAM equation.

𝑣Ԧ 2 = 𝑣Ԧ 02 + 2𝑎(Δ𝒙)
Ԧ
2
𝑣Ԧ = 𝑣Ԧ 02 + 2𝑎(ΔԦ 𝑥Ԧ )
2 𝑚
𝑣Ԧ = (0 m/s)2 + 2(−1.229 2 )(−1.50m)
𝑠
𝑚
𝑣Ԧ = ± 1.920
𝑠
𝒎
𝒗 = 1.920
𝒔
 Try for Yourself
1. John is pushing a 25-kg box of stuff across a horizontal floor. As it moves, it speeds up at a
constant rate of 0.12 m/s2. His push force has a horizontal component of 15 N to the right and a
vertical component of 17 N downward. Calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction between the
box and floor. Answer: μK = 0.04580

2. A 3.5-kg block of ice is released from rest at the top of a 1.25-m-long frictionless ramp, reaching a
speed of 0.55 m/s at the bottom.
a) What is the angle between the ramp and the horizontal?
b) What would be the speed of the ice at the bottom if the motion were opposed by a constant
friction force of 8.0 N parallel to the surface of the ramp? Answer: (a) Φ = 0.7074o (b) v = 0.5500 m/s
 REFLECTION
How can I best help myself
in overcoming the
challenges in today’s
lessons?