Chapter 19

Force and Newtons Laws

Newtons Three Laws of Motion
Newtons First Law
If the net force acting on an object is zero, the object remains at rest, or if the
object is already moving, continues to move in a straight line with constant
speed.
Newtons Second Law
Connects force, acceleration, and mass. An object acted upon by a force will
accelerate in the direction of the force. Force equals mass times acceleration (F =
ma).
Newtons Third Law
For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.
Newtons First Law of Motion
Newtons First Law of Motion states that an object in motion stays in
motion and an object at rest stays at rest until acted upon by an
unbalanced force.
The first law is also referred to as The Law of Inertia

Law of Inertia
Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its velocity:
whether in motion or motionless.
An object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay in
motion at constant velocity, unless acted upon by an unbalanced
force.

These pumpkins will not move unless acted on
by an unbalanced force.
What Causes Motion?
An object moves if a force makes it move.
A force is a push or a pull.
When forces make something move, we say that forces are acting
on the object.
Forces that act on objects are either balanced or unbalanced.
Balanced Forces
Balanced forces two or more forces whose effects cancel each
other out and do not change the motion of the object
All the objects on
your desk have
balanced forces
acting on them.
The objects do not
move.
Unbalanced Forces
Unbalanced forces two or more forces acting on an object that do
not cancel, and cause the object to accelerate
Objects move when unbalanced forces act on them.
The dolly carrying the cases of bottles does not move until the boy
pushes it.
The toy wagon does not move until the girl pulls it.
Push
Pull
Net Force
Net Force combination of all forces acting on an object
If forces act on the object in the same direction, add the forces
together.
If forces act on the object in the opposite directions, subtract the
forces.
Objects will always move in the direction of the greater force.

Calculating Net Force
If forces act on the object in the same direction, add the forces
together. In this example, two forces are acting on the box in the
same direction.
50 N + 50 N = 100 N to the left
Calculating Net Force
If forces act on the object in the opposite direction, subtract the
forces. In this example, two forces are acting on the box in opposite
directions. The net force will always take the direction of the greater
force.
75 N - 50 N = 25 N to the right
Calculating Net Force
If forces act on the object in the opposite direction, subtract the
forces. In this example, two forces are acting on the box in the
opposite direction with the same amount of force in each direction.
50N - 50 N = 0 Newtons
When an object has a force of zero Newtons,
it is balanced.
Friction
Friction force that acts to oppose sliding between two surfaces that
are touching.
Sliding Friction type of friction that slows down an object that
slides.
Due to the microscopic roughness of two surfaces
Friction
Static Friction type of friction that prevents an object from moving
when a force is applied.
Caused by the attraction between the atoms on the two surfaces that are in
contact
As the surfaces gets rougher and the objects heavier the force of static friction
will be larger.
Friction
Rolling Friction type of friction needed to make a wheel or tire turn.
Occurs between the ground and the part of the tire touching the ground
Prevents tire from slipping
Newtons Second Law of Motion
Newtons Second Law of Motion states that objects will move in the
direction of the force.
Force is measured in units called Newtons (named for Sir Isaac
Newton)
1 N = 1 kgm/s
2

The formula used to calculate force is Force = mass x acceleration, or
F=ma

Weight
The force of gravity causes all objects near Earths surface to fall with
an acceleration of 9.8 m/s
2
.
According to Newtons second law the gravitational force on any
object near Earths surface is:
F = ma = m X (9.8 m/s
2
)
Weight your weight on Earth is the gravitational force between you
and Earth.

Mass
Mass is the amount of matter in an object, and doesnt depend on
location
Weight will vary with location but mass will remain constant
Ex. a book with a mass of 1 kg has a mass of 1 kg on Earth or on Mars.
However, the weight of the book would be different on Earth and
Mars.
Why? Weight is a force just like the push of your hand is a force. When
standing on a bathroom scale, you are measuring the pull of Earths
gravity.

Center of Mass
The point in an object that moves as if all the objects mass were
concentrated at that point.
Circular Motion
Centripetal Force means center seeking force; any motion in a
curved path represents accelerated motion, and requires a force
directed toward the center of the path and is always perpendicular to
the motion.
How do satellites stay in orbit?
Satellites are being pulled down toward the Earth just like a thrown baseball.
However, they are at such a distance from Earth and traveling so fast
horizontally that Earths surface curves downward at the same rate that the
satellites are falling downward.
The speed at which a satellite must move to go into orbit near Earths surface is
about 8 km/s, or about 29,000 km/h.

Circular Motion
Circular Motion
http://glencoe.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/0078617707/student_view0/chapter2/concept_animati
ons.html#
Newton Explains
http://www.sciencewithmrnoon.com/projectarise/physics1st/newton2law.swf
Lets Practice
How much force is needed to accelerate a 1400 kilogram car 2 m/s
2
?
Write the formula
F = m x a
Fill in given numbers and units
F = 1400 kg x 2 m/s
2
Solve for the unknown
2800 kg- m/s
2
or 2800 N

More Practice
What acceleration will result when a 12 N net force applied to a 3 kg
object? A 6 kg object?
A net force of 16 N causes a mass to accelerate at a rate of 5 m/s
2
.
Determine the mass.
How much force is needed to accelerate a 66 kg skier 1 m/s
2
?
What is the force on a 1000 kg elevator that is falling freely at 9.8
m/s
2
?

More Practice
What acceleration will result when a 12 N net force applied to a 3 kg
object? A 6 kg object?
12 N = 3 kg x 4 m/s
2
A net force of 16 N causes a mass to accelerate at a rate of 5 m/s
2
.
Determine the mass.
16 N = 3.2 kg x 5 m/s
2
How much force is needed to accelerate a 66 kg skier 1 m/s
2
?
66 kg-m/sec/sec or 66 N
What is the force on a 1000 kg elevator that is falling freely at 9.8
m/s
2
?
9800 kg-m/s
2
or 9800 N


Newtons Third Law of Motion
Newtons Third Law of Motion states that every
action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Every action occurs in equal but opposite pairs.
This basketball will hit the floor because of the
downward force of gravity, but the floor will also
exert a force on the ball and it will bounce in the
opposite direction.

Newtons Third Law of Motion
Action and reaction forces DO NOT cancel!
The forces exerted by two objects on each other are often called an
action-reaction force pair.
Either force can be considered the action force or the reaction force.
Just because action reaction forces are opposite and equal does not mean they
cancel creating zero net force.
Why? Because they act on different objects! Forces can only cancel
when acting on the same object.
Ex. two boys pushing on the same door from opposite directions can cancel each
other creating zero net force.