Foundations of Physics

Unit : Motion and Force in

One Dimension
Chapter : Forces and Equilibrium

6.1 Mass, Weight and Gravity

6.2 Friction

6.3 Equilibrium of Forces and Hookes

Law
 Chapter Objectives
1. Calculate the weight of an object using the strength
of gravity (g) and mass.
2. Describe the difference between mass and weight.
3. Describe at least three processes that cause friction.
4. Calculate the force of friction on an object when
given the coefficient of friction and normal force.
5. Calculate the acceleration of an object including the
effect of friction.
6. Draw a free-body diagram and solve one-dimensional
equilibrium force problems.
7. Calculate the force or deformation of a spring when
given the spring constant and either of the other two
variables.
 Chapter Vocabulary Terms
mass normal force compression
weight extension spring constant
weightless net force deformation
g-force free-body restoring force
friction diagram coefficient of
static friction lubricant friction
sliding friction equilibrium engineering
rolling friction ball bearing design cycle
viscous friction dimension subscript
air friction spring prototype
Hookes law coefficient of
static friction
 1 Mass, Weight, and Gravity

Mass is a measure of
matter.
Mass is constant.
Weight is a force.
Weight is not constant.
 1 Mass, Weight, and Gravity

The weight of an object

depends on the
strength of gravity
wherever the object is.

The mass always stays

the same.
 1 Weight

Gravity (9.8 m/sec2)

Weight force (N) Fw = mg

Mass (kg)
 1 Free fall and weightlessness
An elevator is accelerating downward at 9.8 m/sec2.
The scale feels no force because it is falling away
from your feet at the same rate you are falling.
As a result, you are weightless.
1 Calculate weight
How much would a
person who weighs 490 N
(110 lbs) on Earth weigh
on Jupiter?

The value of g at the top

of Jupiters atmosphere
is 23 N/kg.

(Since Jupiter may not

actually have a surface,
on means at the top of
the atmosphere.)
1 Calculate force

A 10-kilogram ball is supported

at the end of a rope. How much
force (tension) is in the rope?
 1 Mass, Weight, and Gravity
Key Question:
What is speed and how is it measured?
 2 Friction
Friction results from relative motion
between objects.
Frictional forces are forces that resist
or oppose motion.
 2 Types of Friction

Static friction

Sliding friction

Rolling friction
 2 Types of Friction

Air friction

Viscous friction
 2 Friction

Normal force (N)

Friction force (N) Ff = m Fn

Coefficient of friction
 2 Calculate force of friction

A 10 N force pushes down on a box that weighs 100 N.

As the box is pushed horizontally, the coefficient of
sliding friction is 0.25.
Determine the force of friction resisting the motion.
 2 Sliding Friction

Normal force (N)

Friction force (N) Ff = msFn

Coefficient of
sliding friction
Table of friction coefficients
 2 Calculate using friction

A steel pot with a weight of 50 N sits on a steel

countertop.

How much force does it take to start the pot

sliding?
2 Calculate using friction
The engine applies a forward force
of 1,000 newtons to a 500-kg car.

Find the acceleration of the car if the

coefficient of rolling friction is 0.07.
 2 Friction
Key Question:
How can we describe and model friction?
 3 Equilibrium and Hooke's Law
When the net force
acting on an object is
zero, the forces on
the object are
balanced.

We call this
condition equilibrium.
 3 Equilibrium and Hooke's Law

Newtons second law simply requires that for an object to

be in equilibrium, the net force, or the sum of the forces,
has to be zero.
 3 Equilibrium and Hooke's Law
Many problems have more than one force applied to an
object in more than one place.
 3 Calculate net force

Four people are pulling on the same 200 kg box

with the forces shown.

Calculate the acceleration of the box.

3 Calculate force using equilibrium

Two chains are used to lift a

small boat. One of the chains
has a force of 600 newtons.

Find the force in the other

chain if the mass of the boat is
150 kilograms.
 3 Equilibrium and Hooke's Law
The most common type of spring is a coil of metal or
plastic that creates a force when it is extended
(stretched) or compressed (squeezed).
3 Equilibrium and Hooke's Law
The force from a spring
has two important
characteristics:
The force always acts in
a direction that tries to
return the spring to its
unstretched shape.
The strength of the force
is proportional to the
amount of extension or
compression in the
spring.
 3 Hooke's Law

Deformation (m)
Force (N) F=-kx

Spring constant N/m

 3 Calculate force

A spring with k = 250 N/m is extended by

one centimeter.

How much force does the spring exert?

 3 Equilibrium and Hooke's Law

The restoring force

from a wall is always
exactly equal and
opposite to the force
you apply, because it
is caused by the
deformation resulting
from the force you
apply.
 3 Calculate using equilibrium

The spring constant for a piece of solid wood is

1108 N/m.

Use Hookes law to calculate the deformation when

a force of 500 N (112 lbs) is applied.
3 Equilibrium of Forces and Hooke's Law

Key Question:
How do you predict
the force on a
spring?
Application: The design of structures