Mirror Problem

Given:

Hence,
 Laws of Motion
• formulated by Sir Isaac
Newton in Principia
• based on experimental
observations

“Qui genus humanum

ingenio superavit”
 Forces and Interactions
• Force is an interaction between bodies
• It is a vector quantity
• It has an S.I. unit of Newtons [N]
• Can be contact or long-range
• Normal force, friction force, tension, weight
 How do forces add up?

or equivalently,
The magnitude is given by

or, in 3D
 Example
Consider the forces

Find the net force.

R = 128 N, θ = 1410
 Mass and Weight
• Weight has a unit of [N]
• Mass has a unit of [kg]

On the moon (g = 1.62 m/s2), your weight is

different but your mass is the same.

When does your weight change? How about

your mass?
 Newton’s First Law
• A body at rest w/ zero net force remains at rest
• A body in motion keeps moving if there is zero
net force acting on it

“A body acted on by no net force moves with

constant velocity (which may be zero) and zero
acceleration.” [Law of Inertia]

(recall the ball viewed from above problem)

Ex. Ketchup bottle, trains, etc.
 From Principia
“The vis insita, or innate force of matter, is a
power of resisting, by which every body, as
much as in it lies, continues in its present
state, whether it be of rest, or of moving
uniformly forwards in a right line.”
 From Principia
“A body, from its inert nature of matter, is not
without difficulty put out of its state of
motion. Upon which account, this vis insita
may, by a most significant name, be called
inertia (vis inertiae) or force of inactivity.”
 Example
In the classic 1950 sci-fi film Rocketship X-M, a
spaceship is moving in the vacuum of outer
space, far from any planet, when its engine
dies. As a result, the spaceship slows down
and stop. Criticize this event using Newton’s
laws.
Have you tried riding a fast-moving vehicle?

What happens when the vehicle suddenly

stops?

Is this a violation of Newton’s 1st Law?

 Inertial Frames of Reference
A frame of reference where Newton’s first law is
valid is called an inertial frame of reference.

If A is an inertial frame of reference, then any

frame of reference B will also be inertial if
is constant.
 Problem
You are pushing a “caritone” on a straight track
at a constant speed of 2 m/s. You pass a
Selecta bicycle moving at a constant speed of
1 m/s. For which vehicle is the net force
greater? Explain your answer.