Physics I

Class 05

Newtons Laws of Motion

03-1

Newtons Laws of Motion

Isaac Newton, 1642-1727
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
(Mathematical Principles of Physics) 1687

Newton worked out,

i) how to describe objects in motion
ii) a theory of gravity.
Three Laws form the starting point.

03-2

What is a Force?
A force is produced by an interaction between two objects.
A force always requires two objects:
1. The target we wish to describe.
2. The source that provides a force on the target.

Force
Target

Source

Gravity is a familiar force.

What are the target and source objects for the force of gravity
pulling you down at this moment?
03-3

Single Particle Approximation

In many problems a small object interacts with a large object and the
large object remains nearly stationary.
In this case we treat the small object as an isolated body acted on by a
known force.
Examples:

Ball thrown in the air

Friction slowing a car

Vector Forces

Since we use vectors ( r , v , a ) to describe motion, we expect the forces
that cause motion should also be treated as vectors.
Example:

Curved path in projectile motion is produced by a downward gravitational

force on the projectile.

In this example the motion

of the earth can be neglected!

Adding Force Vectors

To add forces, first write the individual force vectors
in component form.
In one dimension, there is only one component and
the + or sign tells you the direction.
Add components for each dimension (X,Y,Z).
Examples (1D):
+3 N

+3 N

+3 N

+6 N

-3 N = 0 N

03-6

Newtons First Law

Consider a body on which zero net (ie. total) force acts.
If the body is at rest, it will remain at rest: static equilibrium
If it is in motion then its velocity
remains constant: dynamic equilibrium
The key condition is zero net force.

03-7

Newtons Second Law

The acceleration of a body is proportional to the net force acting
on it:

F
F

ma

Only forces that act on an object contribute to the net force on it.
The net force and acceleration are always in the same direction because
m is a positive number.
To finish the description we define units for force and mass:
Newton (N), and kilogram (kg)
How could you use a spring to test the proportionality above?
03-8

Model Systems
In Physics we often build approximate models of very complicated systems.
For example, the gravitational force holding you in your seat is approximately
equal to the force exerted on you by the earth.
What forces are we neglecting?

Using Newtons Second Law to

Solve Problems
Identify all forces acting on the object.
Spring, Friction, Gravity, etc.

2.

Choose a coordinate system.

If you know the direction of a , choose that as one coordinate direction.

3.

Draw a Free-Body Diagram.

4.

Find the components of the net force,

5.

Use Newtons Second Law to write one equation for each direction
considered, and put any constraints in equation form.

6.

Solve the equations.

Fz
,
Fy
,
Fx

1.

03-10

Free-Body Diagrams
1.
2.

Draw the object as a box or a circle, detached

from everything else. (free-body)

Draw and label the force arrows acting on the

object, with all tails on the object.

3.

It helps to put the coordinate axes in the diagram

to remember which direction is positive.

4.

If you know the direction of the acceleration it is

often helpful to pick that as one coordinate axis.

X
N
F

P
W = mg

03-11

Example: an Elevator Going Down

Consider an elevator moving downward and speeding
up with an acceleration of 2 m/s2. The mass=1000 kg.
Ignore air resistance. What is the tension in the elevator
cable?
1.

Forces: Weight (magnitude W) down and Tension

(magnitude T) up

2.

Coordinates: +X down.

3.

Free-body diagram :

4.

FX forces: (W) and (T). (Why neg. for T?)

5.

Second Law: (W) + (T) = m a.

6.

Solve: T = W m a = m g m a = m (ga)
T = 1000 (9.82) = 7800 N.

a
T

W = mg

03-12

Newtons Third Law:

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
This means forces always occur as interactions between objects. If object A
is acted on by object B with force F, then B is also acted on by A, and those
two forces (on different objects) are equal in magnitude.

F on A from B
Object A

F on B from A
Object B

This means that if we did not use the single-particle approximation then we
would have to solve for the motion of two or more objects simultaneously
(Ugh!!).
03-13

Take-Away Concepts
1.
2.
3.

Newtons First Law: No net force, no change in motion.

Newtons Second Law: Fnet m a

Newtons Third Law: All forces come in pairs.

4.

Solve force/acceleration problems with Newtons Second

Law and free-body diagrams.

03-14

Problem of the Day

Imagine that you are at rest and holding an object, of mass m,
stationary in your hand. (The weight of the object is mg.)
The net force exerted on the object is:
A) mg upward
B) mg downward
C) zero
D) more information is needed to answer this question

03-15

Optional Material
Are Newtons Laws True?
Its been over 300 years since Newton published Principia Mathematica.
How have his laws done since then?
The First Law is still doing fine. In modern times, many types of very lowfriction motion (space travel, magnetic bearings, air hockey tables, etc.) make
this notion more intuitively appealing than in the past.
The Third Law is also doing fine. All forces currently known to physics
obey this law. Any force not obeying this law would cause big problems in
physics, like getting free mechanical energy from nothing.
However, the Second Law in the form we learn it in Physics I is not exactly
correct. Where did Newton go wrong?

03-16

Where Did Newton Go Wrong?

Albert Einstein (18791955)

Newton defined time and space as follows:

Absolute, true, and mathematical time, of itself and from its own
nature, flows equably without relation to anything external
Absolute space, in its own nature, without relation to anything external,
remains always similar and immovable.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Albert Einstein showed that these
definitions were inconsistent with the observed properties of
electromagnetic waves (light) and electromagnetic interactions with
moving bodies. This was the basis of his Special Theory of Relativity.
03-17

If the Second Law isnt true,

why do we still use it?
The Second Law is true to a very good approximation when dealing with
velocities much less than the speed of light. For most calculations
involving ordinary objects, it is close enough for practical purposes.

Disintegration of the Persistence of

Memory by Salvador Dal, 1931
Art inspired by the
Theory of Relativity?

03-18