GIKPKC7 94107 Forces I Page 1

Introduction
11/3/98
Terms:
Forces Push, pull or twist which causes an object to accelerate
Inertia Tendency to resist acceleration
Momentum Tendency of an object to continue moving
   
Equilibrium A state of balance  FUp =  FDown &  FLeft =  F Right
Normal Perpendicular to
Tension Pulling force, vector quantity (N)

Mass:
 Mass is the amount of matter/substance within something.
 Inertial Mass is measured using mechanical forces, which are act horizontally.
 Gravitational Mass is measured using gravitational forces, which act vertically.

Weight:
 The weight of an object is a measure of the gravitational force acting on it.
 
 When stationary or at constant velocity FW = m. g
 The earth’s gravitational force is 9.81m.s2.
 The moon’s gravitational force is 1/6th of that on earth.
 
Equation: FW = m. g

FW = Weight (N or kg.m.s )
2

m = Mass (kg)

g = Gravity (m.s2)

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Isaac Newton
First Law: A body at rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will
continue to move with uniform motion in a straight line, unless
acted upon by a net external force

Second Law: The time rate of change in momentum of an object is

proportional to the force causing the change
 
Formula: F = m. a
 2
F = Force (N or kg.m.s )
m = Mass (kg)

a = Acceleration (m.s2)

Third Law: To every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction

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Situations
31/3/98
The Lift:
 m = mass (kg)
FT 
FT = Tension (N)

FW = Weight (N)
m


FW

When Force’s are Not in Equilibrium

 Weight of ‘m’: FW = m.g
 
 If FT > FW
 Resultant Force: m.a = FT – FW
 Tension in string: FT = m.a + FW
 Acceleration: a = (FT – FW)/m
 
 If FW > FT
 Resultant Force: m.a = FW – FT
 Tension in string: FT = FW  m.a
 Acceleration: a = (FW – FT)/m

When Force’s are in Equilibrium


 Mass’s move at a constant velocity or zero velocity (i.e. a = 0)

Blocks Touching Each Other:

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m1 = 1st mass (kg)

m m2 = 2nd mass (kg)
 2 
F F = Force (N)
m
1

When Force’s are Not in Equilibrium

 The force moving ‘m1’: F1 = m1.a
 The force moving ‘m2’: F2 = m2.a
 The force exerted by ‘m1’ on ‘m2’: F2
 The force exerted by ‘m2’ on ‘m1’:  F2
 Force applied to pull the system: F = (m1 + m2)a
 Acceleration: a = F/(m1 + m2)

When Force’s are in Equilibrium


 Mass’s move at a constant velocity or zero velocity (i.e. a = 0)

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