Forces and Mass

Classical Mechanics

does not apply for

very tiny objects (< atomic sizes)
objects moving near the speed of light

Newtons First Law

If the net force F exerted on an object is

zero the object continues in its original state of
motion. That is, if F = 0, an object at rest
remains at rest and an object moving with some
velocity continues with the same velocity.
Contrast with Aristotle!

Forces

Usually a push or pull

Vector
Either contact or field force

Contact and Field Forces

Fundamental (Field) Forces

Types
Strong nuclear force
Electromagnetic force
Weak nuclear force
Gravity

Strong Nuclear Force

QCD (Quantum chromodynamics) confines quarks

by exchaning gluons
Nuclear force: binds protons and neutrons
by exchanging pions

Electromagnetic Forces

Opposites attract, like-signs repel

Electric forces bind electrons in atoms
Magnetic forces arise from moving charges

Weak Nuclear Force

Involves exchange of heavy W or Z particle

Responsible for decay of neutrons

Gravity

Attractive force between any two bodies

Proportional to both masses
Inversely proportional to square of distance

FG

m 1 m2
r2

Inertia (Newtons First Law)

Tendency of an object to continue in its original

motion

Mass

A measure of the resistance of an object to

changes in its motion due to a force
Scalar
SI units are kg

Newtons Second Law

Acceleration is proportional to net force and

inversely proportional to mass.

r
r
F ma

Units of Force

SI unit is Newton (N)

F ma
kg m
1N 1 2
s

US Customary unit is pound (lb)

1 N = 0.225 lb

Weight
Weight is magnitude of gravitational force

mass

weight

w mg
M earth m
wG
r2
GM earth
g
2
Rearth

Weight vs. Mass

Mass is inherent property

Weight depends on location

Newtons Third Law

r
r
F12 F21
Force on 1 due to 2

Single isolated force cannot exist

For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction

Newtons Third Law cont.

F12 is action force F21

is reaction force
You can switch
action <-> reaction
Action & reaction
forces act on
different objects

Action-Reaction Pairs

r
r
n n
Fg Fg'

Define the OBJECT (free body)

Newtons Law uses the

forces acting ON object
n and Fg act on object
n and Fg act on other
objects

Assumptions for F=ma

Objects behave as particles

ignore rotational motion (for now)
Consider only forces acting ON object
neglect reaction forces

Definition of Equilibrium
r
F 0

Example
A Ford Pinto is parked in a parking lot
There is no net force on the Pinto
A) True
B) False

Example
A Ford Pinto is parked in a parking lot
The contact force acting on the Pinto from the
parking lot surface ______________ .
A) Points upwards
B) Is zero
C) Points downward

Example
A Ford Pinto drives down a highway on the moon
at constant velocity (where there is no air
resistance)
The Pintos acceleration is __________
A) Less than zero
B) Equal to zero
C) Greater than zero

Example
A Ford Pinto drives down a highway on the moon
at constant velocity (where there is no air
resistance)
The force acting on the Pinto from the contact with
the highway is vertical.
A) True
B) False

Mechanical Forces

Strings, ropes and Pulleys

Gravity
Normal forces
Friction
Springs (later)

Some Rules for Ropes and Pulleys

Force from rope points AWAY from object

Magnitude of the force is tension
Tension does not change when going over
frictionless pulley

Example
a) Find acceleration
b) Find T, the tension above
the bowling ball
c) Find T3, the tension in the
rope between the pails
d) Find force ceiling must exert
on pulley

a)
b)
c)
d)

a = g/6 = 1.635 m/s2

T = 57.2 N
T3=24.5 N
Fpulley=2T = 114.5 N

Example
2) Which statements are correct?
Assume the objects are static.

T1 is _____ T2
A) Less than
B) Equal to
C) Greater than

cos(10o)=0.985
sin(10o)=0.173

Example
2) Which statements are correct?
Assume the objects are static.

T2 is ______ T3

A) Less than
B) Equal to
C) Greater than

cos(10o)=0.985
sin(10o)=0.173

Example
2) Which statements are correct?
Assume the objects are static.
T1 is _____ Mg

A) Less than
B) Equal to
C) Greater than

cos(10o)=0.985
sin(10o)=0.173

Example
2) Which statements are correct?
Assume the objects are static.

T1+T2 is ______ Mg
A) Less than
B) Equal to
C) Greater than

cos(10o)=0.985
sin(10o)=0.173

Example

Given that Mlight = 25 kg, find all three tensions

T3 = 245.3 N, T1 = 147.4 N, T2 = 195.7 N

Inclined Planes

Choose x along the

incline and y
perpendicular to incline
Replace force of gravity
with its components

Fg,x mg sin
Fg,y mg cos

Example

Find the acceleration and the tension

a = 4.43 m/s2, T= 53.7 N

Example

Find M such that the box slides at constant v

M=15.6 kg

Forces of Friction

RESISTIVE force between object and neighbors

or the medium
Examples:
Sliding a box
Air resistance
Rolling resistance

Sliding Friction
f s N
f k N

s k

Parallel to
surface, opposite to
other forces
~ independent of
the area of contact
Depends on the surfaces in contact

Coefficients
of Friction
f s N
f k N

s k

Static Friction, s
fs s N

s is coefficient of
static friction
N is the normal force

Kinetic
Friction, k

f k n

k is coefficient of
kinetic friction
Friction force opposes F
n is the normal force

f
F

Example

The man pushes/pulls with a force of 200 N. The

child and sled combo has a mass of 30 kg and the
coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.15. For each case:
What is the frictional force opposing his efforts?
What is the acceleration of the child?
f=59 N, a=3.80 m/s2

f=29.1 N, a=4.8 m/s2

Example

Given m1 = 10 kg and m2 = 5 kg:

a) What value of s would stop the block from sliding?
b) If the box is sliding and k = 0.2, what is the
acceleration?
c) What is the tension of the rope?

a) s = 0.5

b) a=1.96 m/s2

c) 39.25 N

Example

What is the minimum s required to

prevent a sled from slipping down a
hill of slope 30 degrees?

s = 0.577

Other kinds of friction

Air resistance, F ~ Area v2
Rolling resistance, F ~ v

Terminal velocity:

Fresistance CAv 2
mg atterminalvelocity

Example
An elevator falls with acceleration a = 8.0 m/s2.
If a 200-lb person stood on a bathroom scale
during the fall, what would the scale read?

36.9 lbs

Accelerating Reference Frames

Equivalent to Fictitious gravitational force

g fictitious a frame

Fictitious Force: Derivation

1 2
x v0 t at
2
Eq. of motion in fixed frame
1F 2
v0 t
t
2m
1
x0 (t) a f t 2
2
1 (F ma f ) 2
x x0 (t) v0 t
t
2
m
F-maf looks like force in new frame,
maf acts like fake gravitational force!

Example
You are calibrating an accelerometer so that you can
measure the steady horizontal acceleration of a car by
measuring the angle a ball swings backwards.
If M = 2.5 kg and the acceleration, a = 3.0 m/s2:
a) At what angle does the ball swing backwards?
b) What is the tension in the string?

=17 deg
T= 25.6 N

Example
A fisherman catches a 20 lb trout (mass=9.072
kg), and takes the trout in an elevator to the
78th floor to impress his girl friend, who is the
CEO of a large accounting firm. The fish is
hanging on a scale, which reads 20 lb.s while
the fisherman is stationary. Later, he returns
via the elevator to the ground floor with the
fish still hanging from the scale.
In the instant just after the elevator begins to
move upward, the reading on the scale will be
______________ 20 lbs.
a) Greater than
b) Less than
c) Equal to

Example
A fisherman catches a 20 lb trout (mass=9.072 kg), and
takes the trout in an elevator to the 78th floor to
impress his girl friend, who is the CEO of a large
accounting firm. The fish is hanging on a scale, which
reads 20 lb.s while the fisherman is stationary. Later, he
returns via the elevator to the ground floor with the fish
still hanging from the scale.

On the way back down, while descending at

constant velocity, the reading on the scale will
be ________________ 20 lbs.
a) Greater than
b) Less than
c) Equal to

Example
A fisherman catches a 20 lb trout (mass=9.072 kg), and
takes the trout in an elevator to the 78th floor to
impress his girl friend, who is the CEO of a large
accounting firm. The fish is hanging on a scale, which
reads 20 lb.s while the fisherman is stationary. Later, he
returns via the elevator to the ground floor with the fish
still hanging from the scale.

In the instant just before the elevator comes

to a stop on the 78th floor, the mass of the
fish will be ______________ 9.072 kg.
a) Greater than
b) Less than
c) Equal to