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MECHANICS
Newton’s Laws and

Application of
Newton’s Laws
1
What is a force?
A force:
• Pull or push action.
• Vector
• Symbol: F.
• Measured in newton (N).
• Represented graphically.
Contact and non-contact forces
Forces
Non-contact: Contact: objects are in contact

act over a distance with each other.
Examples: Contact:
1. Magnetic forces 1. Applied forces
2. Electrostatic forces 2. Friction
3. Gravitational forces (Fg) 3. Normal force
4. Tension
5. Air friction
6. Compression
Weight is the force that the earth
exerts on objects that are on or close
to the surface of the earth.
It is calculated: 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔 , where
𝑔 = 9,8 𝑚 ∙ 𝑠 −1 (gravitational
acceleration downward).
A contact force has two components.

One component is parallel to the
contact surface, and the other is
perpendicular to the surface.
Applied force (F or Fapplied (a))
• in the same line; or
• at an angle to the direction of the movement.
Friction (f or Ff)
Normal (FN or N)
Tension (FT or T)
Air resistance (f or Ff)
Compression (Fspring)
Force diagram
• Object with all forces acting on it.
• Object can be simplified as a block.
• Arrow must touch the block.
• Arrows where the force is exerted.
FN
F
f
Fg
Free body diagram
• An object is represented as a dot.
• Force is represented by an arrow
• Arrows point away from the dot
• Must touch the dot.
• Force itself OR by the components of the force. NEVER USE
BOTH!
FN
f F
Fg
Examples:
• Tokela pushes a crate with a mass of
20 kg horizontally from rest over a
rough surface with a force of 100 N
to the right.
• The frictional force between the
crate and the surface is 20 N.
• The system can be represented as
follows:
An object hangs vertically at rest from a cable.
Force diagram: Free body diagram:
FT = T FT = T
Fg
Fg
Examples:
A crate of mass 20 kg is pulled by a force of 100 N
at an angle of 30° to the horizontal.
There is a frictional force of 20 N between the crate
and surface.
30°
FN Fy FN
Fy
Fx
Fx
f = 20 N
f = 20 N Fg
Fg
Examples:
A crate of mass 20 kg is pushed by a force of 100
N at an angle of 30° to the horizontal.
The frictional force between the crate and
surface is 20 N.
30°
FN FN
Fx
Fy Fx
f = 20 N
f = 20 N Fy
Fg
Fg
Friction force
• Contact force
Frictional forces act parallel to the plane of

motion, but are always in the opposite
direction to the motion.
Friction
Static friction Kinetic friction
Only for two objects in

Only for two objects at rest
motion relative to one
relative to one another.
another.
Coefficient of friction
• Symbol: µ
• No unit
• Two coefficients of friction:
- The coefficient of static friction: µS
- The coefficient of kinetic friction: µK
• f ∝ FN
• Maximum coefficient of static friction is normally larger
than the coefficient of kinetic friction µS > µK.
• Smaller value of µ, the less the resistance
How to reduce friction
• Lubricate the surfaces with oil, grease or finely
powdered graphite.
• Wet the surfaces with water.
Static friction (fS)
Static friction is the frictional

force of one contact surface on
another when there is no relative
motion between the objects.
the coefficient of static friction (no unit)
fS(max) = µSFN
static friction (N)

normal force (N)
Kinetic friction (fK)
Kinetic friction is the frictional

force of one contact surface on
another when one or both objects
are moving.
coefficient of kinetic friction (no unit)
fK = µKFN
kinetic friction (N)

normal force (N)
The frictional force can never be
larger than the applied force.
fK is a constant for a specific object

and surface.
Application
• Advantages
▪ Friction between tyres and the surface of the road allows a
vehicle to move.
▪ Friction between surfaces allows you to unscrew a lid
with your hand.
▪ Friction between the soles of your shoes and the floor
enables you to have traction when you walk.
▪ Friction in a gear system causes motion of all parts.
▪ Stepping on the brakes uses friction to slow down a car.
• Disadvantages
▪ Walking or running on loose sand or snow is difficult.
▪ Friction due to the rubber of wheels on the road in a
cycling race or Grand Prix decreases velocities.
▪ Falling on a rough surface, e.g. tar, takes skin off.
Newtons First Law
 An object will remain at rest or

continue to move at a constant
velocity in a straight line, unless
an unbalanced net force acts on it.
Forces are
Balanced
(v = 0 m·s-1 ) (v ≠ 0 m·s-1 )
Objects at Rest Objects in Motion
a = 0 m·s-2 a = 0 m·s-2
Stay at Rest Stay in Motion

(same speed and direction)
Inertia and Mass
The tendency of a body to
maintain its state of rest or
constant motion in a straight line
is called inertia.
❖ The more mass a body has, the harder it
is to change its state of motion.
What if you are not wearing a seatbelt?
The Truck and the
Ladder
Acceleration, force and mass.
What happens if an unbalanced
external force is exerted on the
object?
Newton realised that the velocity of
the object will change.
If the object experiences an increase
or decrease in velocity it will have
acceleration.
Relationship between acceleration and force
 The following conclusions were made from
experiments.
❖ A force make an object accelerate in the direction the force is being
exerted.
❖ The stronger the force, the greater the acceleration.
The acceleration a produced by a

force F is directly proportional to
the force.
Relationship between acceleration and mass
 If a constant force is applied, the greater the mass of an
object, the smaller its acceleration.
 The acceleration a of an object produced by
a force F is inversely proportional to the mass
m of the object.
Newton’s Second Law
When a net force is exerted on an
object, it causes the object to
accelerate in the direction of the
force. This acceleration is directly
proportional to the force and
inversely proportional to the mass
of the object.
1. Daniel pulls two blocks that are
connected with string to the right with a
force of 8N. (Ignore the effects of
friction).
1.1 Draw separate force diagrams for the

two blocks and show all the horizontal
forces acting on the blocks.
1.2 Calculate the acceleration of
the blocks.
1.3 Calculate the force exerted by
the connecting string (T) on
each block.
1.4 Explain how the effect of
friction will affect the
acceleration of the blocks.
1.1
T = tension in string
F = applied force
1.2 1kg Block
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎
𝑇 = 1𝑎
3kg Block
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎
𝐹 − 𝑇 = 𝑚𝑎
8 − 𝑇 = 3𝑎
𝑇 = 8 − 3𝑎
1𝑎 = 8 − 3𝑎
4𝑎 = 8
𝑎 = 2 𝑚 ∙ 𝑠 −2 to the right
1.3 Work with each block separately. Calculate
the net force acting on each block by
subtracting the smaller forces from the
larger force.
1kg block 3kg block

Fnet = T = ma Fnet = F – T = ma
= (1)(2) 8 – T = (3)(2)
= 2N to the right T=8–6
= 2N left
1.4 Friction is a force that opposes
motion – it works in the opposite
direction to the forward motion.
The net force experienced by the
blocks will decrease. Therefore,
the acceleration will decrease
according to Newton’s Second
Law (F α a).
Newton’s Third Law
 When pairs of objects interact they exert
forces on each other. These forces are the
same size and point in opposite directions.
➢ For each action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.
Force of the ball on the glove – Bullet out of gun
Force of the glove on the ball Gun that pulls back

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MECHANICS

Newton’s Laws and

Non-contact: Contact: objects are in contact

A contact force has two components.

Force diagram: Free body diagram:

Frictional forces act parallel to the plane of

Static friction Kinetic friction

Only for two objects in

Static friction is the frictional

static friction (N)

Kinetic friction is the frictional

kinetic friction (N)

fK is a constant for a specific object

 An object will remain at rest or

Stay at Rest Stay in Motion

The acceleration a produced by a

1.1 Draw separate force diagrams for the

1kg block 3kg block

Force of the glove on the ball Gun that pulls back

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