8/9/13 Newton's Laws Applications

Part C: Force-Mass-Acceleration Relationships

Use the approximation that g= ~10 m/s2 to fill in the blanks in the following diagrams.

14.
15.

13.

Since Fgrav = m•g, m can be

calculated to be ~70 Fgrav = m•g = ~800 N
kg(m=Fgrav/g).
Fgrav = m•g = ~800 N Since there are two forces pulling upwards
Since a y = 0 m/s/s, Fnorm must and since the sign is hanging symmetrically,
∑Fy = ma y = (80 kg)•(2.0 m/s/s) equal Fgrav; so Fnorm = 700 N. each force must supply an upwards pull equal
to one-half the object's weight. So the vert
∑Fy = 160 N, down ∑Fx = m•a x = (70 kg)•(5.0 m/s/s) pull (Fy) in each force is 400 N. The following
triangle can be set up:
The Fgrav (down) and the Fair (up) ∑Fx = 350 N, left
must add up to 160 N, down. Thus,
Fair must be smaller than Fgrav by (Note that the ·Fx direction is
160 N. always the same as Using trig, we can write:
the axdirection.)
Fair = 640 N sin(30 deg.)=(400 N)/Fte ns
With Fapp being the only horizontal
force, its value must be 350 N - the Solving for Ftens yields 800 N.
same as ·Fx .

16.
17.

A quick blank is Fgrav: Fgrav = m•g = ~80 N

The first step in an inclined plane problem is to resolve the
Now resolve the 60-N force into components using weight vector into parallel and perpendicular components:
trigonometry and the given angle measure:
Fpar = m•g•sin(angle) = (420 N)•sin(30 deg) = 210 N

Fpe rp = m•g•cos(angle) = (420 N)•cos(30 deg) = 364 N

Fx = 60 N•cos(30 deg) = 52 N The mass can be found as m = Fgrav/g

Fy = 60 N•sin(30 deg) = 25 N m = Fgrav/g = (420 N)/(10 m/s/s) = ~42 kg

Since the acceleration is horizontal, the sum of the vertical The Fnorm acts opposite of and balances the Fpe rp .
forces must equal 0 N. So Fgrav = Fy + Fnorm .
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8/9/13 Newton's Laws Applications
forces must equal 0 N. So Fgrav = Fy + Fnorm .
So Fnorm = Fpe rp = 364 N
Therefore Fnorm = Fgrav - Fy = 55 N.
Knowing Fnorm and mu, the Ffrict can be determined:
Knowing Fnorm and mu, the Ffrict can be determined:
Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = 0.2*(364 N) = 73 N
Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = 0.5*(55 N) = 27.5 N
Now the forces parallel to the incline can be summed:
Now the horizontal forces can be summed:
∑F|| = F|| + Ffrict = 210, down to left + 73 N, up to right
∑Fx = Fx + Ffrict = 52 N, right + 27.5 N, left
∑F|| = 137 N, down to left
∑Fx = 24.5 N, right
Using Newton's second law, ∑F|| = m•a ||
Using Newton's second law, ∑Fx = m•a x
So a|| = (137 N)/(42 kg) = 3.3 m/s/s
So a x = (24.5 N)/(8 kg) = 3.1 m/s/s, right (3.06... m/s/s)

19.

18.

Like most two-body problems involving pulleys, it is usually

easiest to forgo the system analysis and conduct separate
free-body analyses on the individual masses. Free-body
diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and associated
information is shown below.

Treating the two masses as a single system, it can be

concluded that the net force on the 9-kg system is:

∑Fsyste m = m•a syste m = (9 kg)•(2.5 m/s/s) = 22.5 N, right

The free-body diagram for the system is:

Analyzing the Fx forces on the 250-g mass yields:

ma x = Fte ns - Ffrict
The Fnorm supporting the 9-kg system is ~90 N.
Since Ffrict = mu•Fnorm and Fnorm = 2.5 N
So the Ffrict acting upon the system is:
The Ffrict is (0.1)*(2.5 N) = 0.25 N.

Ffrict = mu• Fnorm = 0.20*(90 N) = 18 N, left Substituting into equation 1 yields

So if ∑Fsyste m = 22.5 N, right and Ffrict = 18 N, left, the (0.250 kg)•a x = Fte ns - 0.25 N
rightward Ftens1 must equal 40.5 N.

The Fte ns2 force is found inside the system; as such it can
Analyzing the Fy forces on the 50-g mass yields:
not be determined through a system analysis. To
determine the Fte ns2 , one of the individual masses must be
ma y = Fgrav - Fte ns
isolated and a free-body analysis must be conducted for it.
Substituting m and Fgrav values into equation 3 yeilds:
The 3-kg mass is selected and analyzed:
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8/9/13 Newton's Laws Applications
Substituting m and Fgrav values into equation 3 yeilds:
The 3-kg mass is selected and analyzed:

(0.050 kg)*a y = (0.500 N) - Fte ns

The above equation can be rearranged to:

Fte ns = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*a y

The Fnorm and Fgrav balance each other; their value is ~30 Equation 4 provides an expression for Ftens; this can be
N. The Ffrict on the 3-kg mass is: substituted into equation 2:

Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = 0.20*(30 N) = 6 N, left (0.250 kg)•a x = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*a y - 0.25 N

The net force on the 3-kg object is: Now since both masses accelerate at the same rate, a x =a y

∑Fx = m•a x = (3 kg)•(2.5 m/s/s) = 7.5 N, right and the above equation can be simplified into an equation
with 1 unknown - the acceleration (a):
The horizontal forces must sum up to the net force on the
3-kg object; So (0.250 kg)•a = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*a - 0.25 N

∑Fx = m•a x = Fte ns2 (right) + Ffrict (left) After a few algebra steps, the acceleration can be found:

(0.0300 kg)•a = 0.25 N

7.5 N, right = Fte ns2 + 6 N, left
a = 0.833 m/s/s
The Fte ns2 must be 13.5 N.
Now that a has been found, its value can be substituted
back into equation 4 in order to solve for Fte ns :

Fte ns = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*(0.833 m/s/s)

Ftens = 0.458 N

21.

Like #20, this problem can most easily be solved using

separate free-body analyses on the individual masses.
Free-body diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and
associated information is shown below. Note that in
chosing the axis system, it has been assumed that object
20. 1 will accelerate up the hill and object 2 will accelerate
downwards. If this ends up to be false, then the
acceleration values will turn out to be negative values.

Object 1 is on an inclined plane. The usual circumstances

apply; their is no acceleration along what has been
This problem can most easily be solved using separate
designated as the y-axis.
free-body analyses on the individual masses. Free-body
diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and associated
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8/9/13 Newton's Laws Applications
diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and associated
Fnorm = Fpe rp = m•g•cos(theta) = 888.2 N
information is shown below.

The parallel component of Fgrav is

F|| = m•g•sin(theta) = (100 kg)•(9.8 m/s 2 )•sin(25)

F|| = 414.2 N

The Ffrict value can be found from the Fnorm value:

Note that the positive y-axis is chosen as being downards
on the 200-g mass since that is the direction of its
acceleration. Similarly, it chosen as upwards on the 100-g Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = (0.35)•(888.2 N) = 310.9 N
mass since that is the direction of its acceleration.
The ∑Fx = m•a x equation can now be written:
For the 200-gram mass, the sum of the vertical forces
equals the mass times the acceleration: ∑Fx = m•a x

Fgrav - Fte ns = m•a y

Fte ns - Ffrict - F|| = m•a x

2.00 N - Fte ns = (0.200 kg)•a y

Fte ns - 310.9 N - 414.2 N = m•a x

The same type of analysis can be conducted for the 100-

gram mass: (Note that the Ffrict and F|| forces are subtracted from
Fte ns since they are heading in the direction of the
Fte ns - Fgrav = m•a y negative x-axis.)

Fte ns - 1.00 N = (0.100 kg)•a y The above process can be repeated for object 2. The ∑Fy =
m•a y equation can now be written:
Equation 2 can be rearranged to obtain an expression for
the tension force: ∑Fy = m•a y

Fte ns = (0.100 kg)•a y + 1.00 N Fgrav - Fte ns = m•a y

This expression for Fte ns can be substituted into equation (980 N) - Fte ns = m•a y
1 in order to obtain a single equation with acceleration (a y)
as the unknown. The a y value can be solved for. The separate free-body analyses have provided two
equations with two unknowns; the task at hand is to use
2.00 N -[(0.100 kg)•a y + 1.00 N] = (0.200 kg)•a y these two equations to solve for Ftens and a.

2.00 N - 1.00 N = (0.200 kg)•a y + (0.100 kg)•a y Equation 2 can be re-written as

1.00 N = (0.300 kg)•a y (980 N) - m•a y = Fte ns

a y = (1.00 N)/(0.300 kg) = 3.33 m/s/s Since both objects accelerate together at the same rate,
the ax for object 1 is equal to the ay value for object 2. The
Now with a y known, its value can be substituted into subscripts x and y can be dropped and a can be inserted
into each equation.
equation 3 in order to determine the tension force:
(980 N) - m•a = Fte ns
Fte ns = (0.100 kg)•a y + 1.00 N

Equation 3 provides an expression for Fte ns in terms of a.

Fte ns = (0.100 kg)•(3.33 m/s/s) + 1.00 N
This expression is inserted into equation 1 in order to solve
for acceleration. The steps are shown below.
Fte ns = 0.333 N + 1.00 N = 1.33 N
(980 N) - m•a - 310.9 N - 414.2 N = m•a

= 2•m•a

254.9 N = 2•(100 kg)•a

1.27 m/s2 = a

The value of a can be re-inserted into equation 3 in order

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8/9/13 Newton's Laws Applications
The value of a can be re-inserted into equation 3 in order
to solve for Fte ns :

Fte ns = (980 N) - m•a =(980 N) - (100 kg)•(1.27 m/s 2 )

Ftens = 853 N

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