1.5 Applications of Force

Applications of Force
Strategy for Force Problems

1. Draw a FBD.
2. Decide the direction of motion and consider this the positive direction. If the object
does not move, ask which direction it would move if it were free to do so, and set this
as the positive direction.
3. Which direction matters, the x or the y-direction? What is it doing in the
direction that matter?
4. Construct ∑Fi equations in the relevant direction, by looking at the FBD. Any force
vectors or components of force vectors pointing in the direction of motion are positive
while any vectors or components opposing motion are negative.
5. Substitute known equation ∑Fi = ma, Fg = mg into the sum of force equation.
6. Plug in the values and solve for the required unknown. All values including 9.8 are
positive since the plusses and minuses have already been decided
Example 1: Static Force Problems

A mass is suspended by two strings from the ceiling, as shown in Fig 5.1a and the
FBD. In Fig 5.1c the tensions are separated into x and y-components.
Hint: Sum the forces in the x and y-directions separately. The sum of force will be
equal to zero (the object doesn’t move).
∑Fx = T2x – T1x
∑Fy = T1y + T2y – Fg
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Example 2: Lawn Mower
A 16 kg lawnmower is pushed with 90N at a 45 angle against a horizontal retarding
force (the lawnmower is not moving) . Fig 5.2a is the FBD, while Figure 5.2b is a
diagram of horizontal and vertical component vectors.
Find:
a)The retarding force (from rest v = 0) ax = 0
b)The normal force.
c) The value of the force needed to accelerate to v=1.5 m/s in
2.5 s
a) ∑Fx = Fx – Fretard = 0 (1)
∑Fy = N - Fy - Fg = 0 (2)
b) N = Fy + Fg = Fsin45 + mg =
= (90N)(0.707) + (16kg)(9.81 m/s sq)
= 220.4 N
c) vf = v0 + at = 0 +at, a = v/t = (1.5 m/s)/(2.5s) = 0.6 m/s sq.
Fx – Fretard = ma
Fcos45 – Fretard = ma
Fcos45 = Fretard + ma
F = (Fretard + ma) / cos 45 = (63.6N + (16kg)(0.6 m/s sq)) / 0.707 = 104 N
Apparent Weight:
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When you ride in an elevator upward you will feel heavier when the elevator
accelerates and lighter as it stops. When riding downward, you will feel lighter when it
accelerates and heavier when it stops. When you ride a roller coaster you experience
the same sensations when moving up and down. Astronauts and pilots experience
these same sensations when moving away or toward the center of the earth.
Astronauts also feel weightlessness as well. This effect is not limited to the vertical
direction.
With apparent weight we are dealing with a false force that the passenger feels. The
effect is really created by the passenger’s inertia. The real acting forces are the
opposite of what our brain thinks. To analyze this feeling of force for a passenger we
need apparent weight.
Apparent weight is the weight that would show on a bathroom scale if you were on it.
The bathroom scale measures the normal force so the weight apparent is also the
normal force (FN)
In the y-direction.
Fg apparent = mg + may when the object is moving upward (away from Earth)
Fg apparent = mg - may when the object is moving downward (towards Earth)
Example 3: Compound Bodies (one dimension)

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Problems in which two or more masses are connected by a string or are pushed
against each other.
In Fig 5.3a a force F pushes against block 1, which pushes with a normal force against
block 2, which pushes with a normal force against block 3.
Treat the system as one large block with the mass 3m.
∑F system = F = msystem a = (m1 + m2 + m3)a
a = F / (m1 + m2 + m3)
F1 = F/ 3 F2 = F/ 3 F3 = F/ 3
If the blocks have the same mass, the force will be distributed proportionally, based on
mass (same mass, same force on each). If they don’t have the same mass, distribute
the force using the mass ratio of each object.
Block 1 requires one third of force F tom ove, the remaining two thirds will push block 2
and 3 (the force is normal at contact between block 1 and 2). Block 2 requires another
third of force F to move and the remaining third will push block 3 as a normal force at
contact between block 2 and 3.
Similar problem if the blocks are stacked one on top of

another (like gymnasts standing on each other’s
shoulders). The bottom gymnast feels all the force. If we
consider their shoulders as point of contact for the normal
force, the bottom one will pusg with two thirds to hold 2/3 of M.
The middle gymnast will support his own weight and the one
of the top gymnast so his feet are pushed with 2/3 M. At the
boundry between the middle and the top gymnast, the normal
force is only 1/3 M.
M = 3m (if masses are equal).
The problem is the same if the blocks are suppended by strings, hanging from the
ceiling (gymnasts are hanging from a cliff). The only difference is that the normal force
at the point of contact is replaced by the tension in the string.
Example 4 Compound Bodies (moving in two dimensions)
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Solve for acceleration: Figure 5.4a shows the
scenario. Two masses, so there are two free body
diagrams shown in fig. 5.4b. Use this sketch and the
combined mass method to solve for overall
acceleration. Remember that you must total all the
masses for the sum of forces. Fg and FN acting on mass
m are perpendicular to motion, so they cancel each
other.
The tension in the rope cancels. It is the same rope so

the value at both ends is the same and the direction of
tension is opposite, so they cancel.
∑F AB = FgB (for the whole system of A and B)

(mA + mB)a = mBg
Solve for the acceleration of the system a = mBg /(mA + mB)
Solve for the tension in the rope: You need the equation formula with the tension in
it. You must solve for one of the masses by itself. On test choose the easy one this will
be usually by the hanging mass.
For object A ∑F A = T
For object B ∑FB = FgB – T = mBa (solve this equation for T).
→ T = FgB – mBa = mB g – mB a = mB(g – a)
Motion on a slope (an incline)
5
If the motion is along an incline then Fg makes an angle to the direction of the motion.
Any vector making an angle should be split into components: one that is parallel and
one that is perpendicular to the direction of the motion. Fg should be split into Fgx
(parallel to the incline) and Fgy (normal, or
perpendicular to the incline).
Fgx = Fg sin(θ)
Fgy = Fg cos(θ)
The object is not moving perpendicular to the incline,

so the sum of all forces in that direction should be
zero. The component Fgy is pushing the object to the
incline so the incline is reacting back with an equal
and opposite force, called the Normal Force. In these
problems N = Fgy = Fg cos(θ). The component of
gravity Fgx = Fg sin(θ) parallel to the slope is the
force that determines the object to accelerate down
the incline.
Friction: is always opposite to the motion (negative). Because motion is always

parallel to a surface, mfriction is also parallel. The friction depends on the coefficient of
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friction, which is a constant depending on the materials in contact (type, nature, surface
smoothness, etc).
Ff = µN Ff = µmg cos(θ) Ff = µmg

on an incline on a horizontal surface
Static Friction (µs): the force preventing an object from moving (when v = 0). The
maximum value of the static friction is when the object breaks loose and begins to
move.
Kinetic Friction (µk < µs): the force acting on moving objects. Once the object
begins to move, then the friction becomes kinetic, and is less in magnitude then the
static friction
Example 5: The 60 kg skier shown below is skiing down a 35° incline with a
coefficient of friction is 0.08. Determine the acceleration of the skier.
Example 6: A rollercoaster car, with a mass of 300 kg with passengers, accelerates

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down a 65° hill. We will assume that friction could be ignored.
a. Draw a force diagram for the system of car and riders.

b. Determine the value of the component of the gravitational force parallel to the
hill.
c. What is the acceleration of the rollercoaster down the hill?
d. If they are traveling 4 m/s at the time shown in the picture, how fast will they be
traveling at the end of the straight stretch, 20 m later?
Combined bodies and slope

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Solve for acceleration: This example is the same as 5-4, only this time the block A is
on an incline. We use the same approach for problem solving, but recognizing that
gravity acts differently on slopes than on horizontal surfaces. Diagram 5.7b shows the
FBD for each one of the two objects. Note the different orientation of the vectors for
the object A. For the block A we need the component of the gravity acting in the
direction of the motion to solve the problem Fg sin(θ).
∑FAB = FgB – FgA sin(θ) (for the whole system of

A and B)
(mA + mB)a = mBg – mAg sin(θ)
Solve this equation for acceleration a:
a = (mBg – mAg sinθ)/( mA + mB)
Solve for the tension in the rope: Choose only one block (usually the hanging
mass).
∑FA = T – FgA sin(θ) for block A
∑FB = FgB – T = mBa for block B
T = mAa + mAg sin(θ)

or
T = mBg – mBa

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Applications of Force

Strategy for Force Problems

Example 1: Static Force Problems

F = (Fretard + ma) / cos 45 = (63.6N + (16kg)(0.6 m/s sq)) / 0.707 = 104 N

Example 3: Compound Bodies (one dimension)

∑F system = F = msystem a = (m1 + m2 + m3)a

Similar problem if the blocks are stacked one on top of

The tension in the rope cancels. It is the same rope so

∑F AB = FgB (for the whole system of A and B)

Motion on a slope (an incline)

The object is not moving perpendicular to the incline,

Friction: is always opposite to the motion (negative). Because motion is always

Ff = µN Ff = µmg cos(θ) Ff = µmg

Example 6: A rollercoaster car, with a mass of 300 kg with passengers, accelerates

a. Draw a force diagram for the system of car and riders.

c. What is the acceleration of the rollercoaster down the hill?

Combined bodies and slope

∑FAB = FgB – FgA sin(θ) (for the whole system of

a = (mBg – mAg sinθ)/( mA + mB)

T = mAa + mAg sin(θ)

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