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Chapter 4
FORCES AND NEWTON'S LAWS
GOALS
When you have mastered the concepts of this chapter, you will be able to achieve the
following goals.
Definitions
Define each of the following terms, and use each term in an operational definition:
force centripetal force
coefficient of friction frictional force
weight weightlessness
Newton's Laws
State Newton's laws of motion and gravitation.
Resolution of Forces
Given the force acting on a system, draw a force diagram and/or resolve forces into their
components and/or solve for an unknown force.
PREREQUISITES
Before you begin this chapter you should have achieved the goals of Chapter 3,
Kinematics, including uniformly accelerated motion and uniform circular motion.
Chapter 4
FORCES AND NEWTON'S LAWS
4.1 Introduction
You have experienced many examples of forces. You are familiar with a muscular
exertion producing a push or a pull, which are forces. There are many other examples
such as: one solid object acting on another through contact; the gravitational force of the
earth on an object; the attraction of a magnet for an iron object; the attraction between a
plastic rod that has been rubbed with cat's fur and bits of paper; and the force of a
stretched spring. One effect of a force is to alter the state of motion of a body.
In this chapter you will study forces. Acceleration, uniformly accelerated motion,
projectile motion, and the other kinds of motion require force. If you are to determine
these motions, then you must first determine the various forces acting on a body. The
study of forces and the associated changes in motion is called dynamics. Of particular
interest are the conditions leading to equilibrium.
Every body persists in its state of rest or of uniform linear motion unless it is acted upon by a
unbalanced force.
The first law is sometimes spoken of as the inertial law. Recall the concept of inertia
introduced in Chapter 2- that is, any object has a tendency to resist change. In mechanics
this property of an object to resist a change in motion is called its inertia and is measured
by the mass of the object.
Newton's first law helps to unify your experiences with objects at rest not suddenly
moving and with moving objects having difficulty in stopping suddenly. Nature seems to
prefer to have things change slowly. The measure of the slowness of change in the motion
of an object is its mass.
Have you ever faced off to wrestle another person? You grab each others hands and
push as hard as you can and for just an instant you are locked in a motionless struggle.
You are pushing against your opponent. Your opponent is pushing against you with an
equal force. According to Newton's third law that is exactly the same as if you would
push against a brick wall (Figure 4.1). Your push against the wall is balanced by the wall's
push against you, just as your push was counteracted by that of your wrestling opponent.
Consider the case of your physics book resting on your study desk. The physics book
acts on the table with a downward force and the study desk acts on the book with a force
in the upward direction. We then have a pair of forces that are equal in magnitude and
oppositely directed. One is the book acting on the desk, and the other is the desk acting
on the book. One force is called the action force, and the other is called the reaction force.
They form an action-reaction pair of forces. These are experiences unified by Newton's
third law of motion:
For every action there is an equal and an opposite reaction.
Suppose you tie a rope around a tree, and you pull on the rope. You exert a force on
the rope and the rope exerts a force on you. This is an action-reaction pair. At the other
end of the rope we have another action-reaction pair as the rope acts on the tree and the
tree acts on the rope. If one has two interacting bodies, A and B, the action-reaction pair
can be described by A acting on B and B acting on A.
Consider a tug of war between sides A and B, as shown in Figure 4.2. The rope is
acting to the left on group A, RA, and group A is acting to the right on the rope, AR. Group
A is acting to the left on the earth, and the earth is acting to the right on the group A.
These are two examples of action and reaction. What are the action-reaction pairs for
group B? Now suppose group B suddenly wraps their end of the rope around a tree, and
group A continues to exert the same force as before. Has the tension in the rope changed?
How many pairs of action and reaction forces can you identify around you?
In all of the examples note that each force has magnitude and direction, and thus force
is a vector quantity and is so treated. The action-reaction pair of forces are vectors of
equal magnitude but opposite directions. A vector representation of the action- reaction
forces for the tug of war in Figure 4.2 is given as: FAB = - FBA. The rules of vector addition
and subtraction can be applied to a force system. Some methods and examples of vector
addition were given in Chapter 3.
In accordance with the definition of equilibrium, an object at rest experiences no net
force.
The vector sum of all forces acting on an object in mechanical equilibrium is zero.
Another way of defining equilibrium is that the vector sum of the force components in
any direction is equal to zero. Let us look at a particular case. The leg in Figure 4.3 is held
in traction by the cord OA and the weight W. Consider the forces acting on the foot at
point O. We will call the tension in the cord OA, TA; the tension in the leg, TB, and the
tension in the cord OC, TC. The tension TC is equal to the weight, say 10.0 newtons (N),
where newtons are the SI units of force. The first step in solving any mechanical
equilibrium problem is to draw a force diagram like the one in Figure 4.3b. A force
diagram is an idealization of the physical problem. All the forces acting on the system are
drawn. Each force is represented by a vector. The length of the arrow is proportional to
the magnitude of the force. The direction of the arrow represents the direction in which
the force is acting. In many cases, drawing a correct force diagram will essentially solve a
force problem for you. The best way to learn how to draw force diagrams is to practice.
For each problem and example in this chapter, draw your own force diagram, and then
compare it with ours.
TA = 12.5 N, and TB = 7.50 N. The directions are shown in Figure 4.3, TB acting
horizontally to the left and TA acting to the right and upward 53 o above horizontal.
EXAMPLES
1. Given the tension on the teeth bands as 1.00 N (a reasonable tension as applied by an
orthodontist), find the net force, F, that tends to realign the out-of-line tooth as shown
in Figure 4.5a. First draw the diagram of the forces acting at the contact between the
tooth and the teeth bands. Represent each force by an arrow of about the proper
length and pointing in what you assume is the proper direction. See Figure 4.5b. Once
you have completed the force diagram you can use the method of vector addition as
described in Section 3.3 to form the closed polygon that results when all the vectors
add to zero (Figure 4.5c) .
Notice that this problem is a bit tricky. What is asked for is not the force the tooth
exerts on the teeth bands, not the force which keeps the system in equilibrium, but
rather the force that tends to realign the tooth. However, from Newton's third law we
know that the force of the tooth against the bands and of the bands against the tooth
are an action-reaction pair, equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.
From Figure 4.5c we can see what equations we need to find the numerical value
for the magnitude of F. The closed polygon formed by T1, T2 and - F is an isoceles
triangle with F the length of its base and T the length of the equal sides. Therefore, in
terms of the magnitude of - F and T
F = 2T sin 30o;
F = 2(1.00 N)(0.500) = 1 N
So the force that tends to realign the tooth has a magnitude of 1 N and acts inwardly
at an angle of 60 o from the teeth bands.
2. Consider the case of a 400 N youth hanging on a rope so that his arms make an angle of
80 o above the horizontal (Figure 4.6).
The rope is horizontal between his hands and makes an angle of 30o above the
horizontal beyond his hands. What are the forces exerted by the youth's arms and by
the tension in the rope?
First let us draw a force diagram. We know the weight of the youth is a vector
pointing vertically downward with a length proportional to 400 N. The only other
forces acting on the youth are the forces exerted by his right arm FR and by his left arm
FL. These two forces are of equal size, as is implied by the statement of the problem,
and act at an angle of 80o to the horizontal. The force diagram for the situation is
shown in Figure 4.6. Once again use the method of vector addition to draw the closed
polygon shown in Figure 4.6c. Now we can use algebraic and trigonometric
procedures to solve for the magnitudes of the forces, FR and FL. If we consider just the
sum of the horizontal forces, we obtain the equation, FR cos 80o = FL cos 80o, since the
400 N weight of the youth has no horizontal component it does not appear in this
equation. The result of the horizontal component equation is that the two forces, FR
and FL, are of equal magnitude, FR = FL. From the sum of the vertical components, we
obtain
400 N = FR sin 80o + FL sin 80o = 2 FR sin 80o
Substituting the value of sin 80o, we obtain
203 N = FR = FL
To complete this problem we can draw the force diagram for the forces acting at
point B, where the hand of the youth is holding tightly to the rope. Remembering
Newton's third law, we know that the force in his arm, which we showed pulling
upward to the right in Figure 4.6b, will be pulling downward and to the left on the
rope. See Figure 4.6d. From this figure we can use algebraic-trigonometric methods to
find the magnitudes of the tensions TBC and TAB. Since TAB is acting only in the
horizontal direction, the vertical upward component of TBC must just be balanced by
the downward pull of the youth's arm: TBC sin 30o = FL sin 80o = 230 N sin 80o
TBC = 400 N
Finally, from the equation for the horizontal components of the forces, we can obtain
the value for the magnitude of TAB.
In the second position, the force acts at an angle of 30o to the direction of the leg, so the
force opposing the horizontal extension of the leg is 80.0 N sin 30o, or 40.0 N. In the
third position, the force acts at an angle of 60o to the leg, so the magnitude of the force
perpendicular to the line of the leg is given by 80.0 N sin 60o, or 69.3 N. In the
horizontal position all 80.0 N of the weight is acting perpendicular to the leg
extension.
In the second exercise system, an exercise load of 80.0 N is applied to the foot
through a pulley system so that the load is maximum when the lower leg is in a
vertical position (see Figure 4.8). Once again let us find the force perpendicular to the
lower leg opposing the extension of the leg at four positions, lower leg vertical, 30o
from vertical, 60o from vertical, and horizontal. Using the geometry given in Figure
4.8, we can calculate the angle between the lower leg and the rope from the exercise
apparatus. For the four positions A, B, C, and D the angles Θ between the lower leg
and the applied force are 90o, 63o, 40o, and 17o respectively.
tension in the neck extensor muscles and C is magnitude of the compressive force exerted
at the atlanto-occipital joint. The solutions to these equations are T = 2.14W; so C = 2.85 W.
So if your head weighs 50.0 N (about 11 lb), your neck muscles will have to exert a force
of 107 N when you incline your head at a 37o angle.
You may need to practice drawing force diagrams. This is an important problem-
solving technique that is based upon the superposition concept. The individual parts of a
problem are isolated and solved separately. Then the final result is obtained by adding up
the answers obtained for the individual partial solutions.
3. Find the force exerted on the body if a 50.0-kg person jumps stiff-
legged from a porch 1.00 m onto a concrete walkway. Assume that
the padding on the foot compresses 6.00 mm in stopping the fall (see
Figure 4.10). This problem is similar to the previous example. We
must use Equation 3.9 twice. First, given the vertical distance of the
jump and the acceleration of gravity, we can find the velocity at
impact. Then using our computed value for the velocity at impact
and the known distance of foot compression, we can calculate the stopping
acceleration. Finally, using our calculated value for stopping acceleration, we use
Newton's second law to find the force exerted on the body. If we choose the vertical
downward as positive, then first,
Let us review the prescription followed in solving these example problems. These
problems asked for the determination of a force that was known to provide a certain
acceleration for an object of known mass. This unknown force is equal to the mass of the
object times the acceleration specified in the problem. The direction of the force will be in
the direction of the acceleration. The acceleration called for in the problem can be
determined by using the initial and final velocities and the distance traveled during the
acceleration. In this case, we use Equation 3.9,
2as = vf2 - v02
to find the acceleration. It is also possible to give the initial and final velocities and the
time of such acceleration. In this case we use Equation 3.4
vf = v0+ at
to find the acceleration.
variables you may change are the different kinds of surfaces, the conditions of surfaces,
the area of contact, and the velocity. Compare starting force and the force for uniform
motion, and tabulate your observations.
In doing these experiments you may observe that
1. the starting force is greater than the force required to keep an object moving uniformly
after it is started.
2. the frictional force is independent of area of contact.
3. the frictional force is independent of the velocity (for low velocities only).
4. the frictional force is dependent upon the types of surface in contact.
5. the frictional force is dependent upon the condition of the surfaces in contact.
6. the frictional force is dependent upon the forces pressing the surfaces together.
To explain such observations we assume that the friction force can be represented
mathematically as a force whose magnitude is a constant number multiplied by the force
pushing the two surfaces together.
ƒs ≤ µsN (4.2)
where ƒ s is the static frictional force, µs is the coefficient of static friction, and N is the normal
force, the force perpendicular to the surfaces, that press the surfaces together. The
direction of the friction force is opposite to the direction of impending motion. The force
of static friction can be any value from zero to µsN, its maximum value just before motion
begins.
The coefficient of friction is greatest between two surfaces at rest with respect to one
another (observation 1 above). When the two surfaces begin to move with respect to each
other the friction force is reduced. As soon as sliding begins, a kinetic frictional force
opposes the motion. The coefficient of friction for this force is the coefficient of kinetic
friction µk. The kinetic frictional force is given by the product of µk and the normal force,
N, pressing the surfaces together.
ƒk = µk N (4.3)
Some approximate values of µs and µk are given in Table 4.1. Notice that each case µk<µs,
the kinetic friction is less than the static friction.
In many cases it is desirable to reduce the frictional force to a minimum. In mechanical
systems the contact surfaces are polished to reduce the frictional forces. Another way to
reduce the effects of friction is to lubricate the surfaces. Can you think of a model to
explain how oil works as a lubricant? In the case of the membranes and joints in the
human body, the problem is also solved by the use of lubricants. Note in Table 4.1 the
value of µ in the human body.
How can the joints in the human body have such a small
coefficient of friction? The answer to this question is provided by
the synovial joint. In a synovial joint the ends of the bones, each
covered by cartilage, rest against an enclosed membrane sack
(Figure 4.11). Inside the membrane sack is the synovial fluid,
which is similar in physical properties to blood plasma. The
synovial fluid helps to support the forces exerted by the bones
and provides a medium to reduce the frictional forces. Not all
frictional forces are detrimental. Make a list of examples in
which frictional forces are absolutely necessary. How could you
operate in a frictionless world?
EXAMPLES
Consider a patient with neck traction (T)
applied by calipers or tongs attached to the
skull (see Figure 4.12). Assume that the head W
weighs 50.0 N and that the coefficient of friction
µ between the back of the head and the hospital
bed is 0.200.
1. Assume that the bed and patient are in a horizontal position and the applied traction
force is also horizontal. What is the maximum frictional force that must be overcome
before the traction pull will be effective in stretching the neck structures? For a
horizontal surface; the normal force N is equal in magnitude to the weight. There is no
vertical motion, so the net vertical forceis equal to zero (see Figure 4.13a).
W=N
ƒmax = µN = µW.
To stretch the neck structures the force T must be greater than the maximum friction
force, T > ƒmax = (0.200) (50.0 N) = 10.0 N.
2. Consider the use of this traction system where a technique is used to stretch the
posterior neck structures by applying the traction at an angle Θ, say 37o, with the
horizontal (see Figure 4.13b) . What is the magnitude of the traction T that would just
start the head moving toward the end of the bed? For a horizontal surface with force
acting at 37o, the downward force of W is opposed in the vertical component of T:
N = W - T sin Θ
ƒmax = µN = TcosΘ; horizontal component of T must at least
equal the maximum value of ƒ to start the motion.
N = W cosΦ
T = ƒmax + W sin Φ
From the equation that defines friction
ƒmax = µ N = µ W cos Φ
T = µ W cosΦ+ W sinΦ
T = 0.200 (50.0) cos30o + 50.0 sin30o
= 10.0 (0.866) + (50.0)(0.500) = 8.66 + 25.0
T = 33.7 N
4. Now assume the patient who requires an inclined bed also needs to have the
posterior neck structures stretched. What traction T acting
at 37 o to the bed inclined at 30 o will be required to just slide
the patient's head (see Figure 4.15). For an incline of 30 o
with a force 37 o above the incline:
N + T sin Θ= W cos Φ
ƒmax = µ N = µ (W cos Φ- T sinΘ)
T cos Θ = W sin Φ+ ƒmax
T cos Θ = W sin Φ+ µ (W cos Φ - T sin Θ)
0.800 T = 50.0 (0.500) + 0.200 [50.0 (0.866) - T (0.600)]
0.92T = 33.7; T = 37.7 N
5. If the only unbalanced force acting on a moving body is the frictional force, then it
opposes the motion and produces a deceleration. A 15,000 N automobile is traveling
39.2 km/hr on a horizontal road. The brakes are applied, and it slides to rest with µk =
0.500. What is the force acting? What is the acceleration? How far did the car slide?
F = ƒmax = µk N
F = 0.500 • 15,000 N = 7500 N
F = ma or a = F/m
a = F/(W/g) = 7,500/(15,000/g) = 1/2 • 9.80 = 4.90 m/ sec2
v0 = 39,200 m/3,600 sec = 10.9 m/sec
2as = vf2 - v02
a = - 4.9 m/ sec2
-2(4.9 m/ sec2 )s = 0 – (10.9 m/sec)2
s = 119 (m/sec)2/9.80 m/sec2= 12.1 m
6. a. A water skier (whose mass is 70.0 kg) is pulled through the water at a constant
velocity of 20.0 m/sec by a forward force on the skier of 100 N. Find the frictional
drag force on the skier. Since the skier moves at a constant speed (a = 0), the net
force on the skier is zero. Thus the drag force must be 100 N.
b. A velocity dependent drag force is common for motion through fluids. Assume that
the frictional drag force is proportional to the speed of the skier, and find the
frictional drag coefficient.
ƒd = k v
Thus
k = ƒd / v = 100 N/20.0 m/sec = 5.00 N sec/m
7. Consider the system illustrated in Figure 4.16. The masses are MA = 10.0 kg and MB =
20.0 kg, and the coefficient of sliding friction is 0.200 for the incline. Find the
acceleration of each block.
The first step in solving such problems is to draw a free-body diagram (seeFigure
4.16b) to show clearly all forces acting on each body.
T
he bodies are connected by a rope; if the rope doesn't stretch or break, both bodies will
have the same acceleration. Therefore, the net force on each body must equal its mass
times the acceleration. Let us solve the problem: For mass A: There is no motion
perpendicular to the plane, thus, the magnitude of the normal force N must equal the
component of the weight acting vertically:
N - MA g cos Θ = 0
or
N = MA g cos Θ = 10.0 kg • 9.80 m/sec2 • 0.800 = 78.4 N.
For mass A to move up the plane, we must have a net positive force acting parallel
to the plane:
T - (MA g sinΘ + µ N) = MA a
where a is positive for acceleration up the plane.
For mass B, the tension in the rope acts to oppose its weight, thus the net force
equation is
MB g - T = MB a
where a is positive for weight B falling down.
We must now solve the equations for the magnitude of a. This can be done by
solving the MB equation for T and substituting this into equation for mass A. Thus we
get:
MB g - MA g sinΘ - µMA g cos Θ = (MA + MB)a
a = (MB g - MA g sinΘ - µMA g cos Θ)/(MA + MB)
a = (20.0 • 9.80 - 10.0 • 9.80 • 0.600 - 0.200 • 10 • 9.80 • 0.800)/30.0
a = (196 N - 118.1 N - 15.7 N)/30.0 kg = 2.09 m/sec2
Thus, T = MB (g- a) = 154 N
any two point masses attract each other by a force that is proportional to the product of their
masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the masses. The direction
of this force is along the line between the point masses.
This is called the universal law of gravitation because it is assumed to apply to point mass
interactions throughout the universe. We can write this law as an equation using a
proportionality constant which we will signify by G:
F = G m1m2/r2 (4.4)
where G is a constant known as the universal gravitation constant. It has the same value for
any pair of masses, and its value in SI units is G = 6.6732 x 10-11 N- m2/kg2. The
universal law of gravitation can be extended to all spherical bodies that have mass
distributions that depend only on distance from the center of the body. The superposition
principle applied to these bodies shows us that such a body may be treated as if its entire
mass were concentrated at its center.
Consider a mass, m, freely falling near the surface of the earth. The force of gravity
produces the acceleration g. Thus we have: (Me = mass of earth and re = earth radius)
mg = GMem/re 2 or g = GMe/re 2 (4.5)
Gravitation is another example of interaction-at-a-distance since an object does not
have to be in contact with the earth to be acted upon by the force of gravity. It is
reasonable to construct the concept of a gravitational field that surrounds the earth. At
any point a distance r from the center of the earth, the gravitational field can be defined to
have the magnitude of GMe/r 2 newtons and be directed toward the center of the earth. If
we place an object of mass m at that point, we will have its weight, or the gravitational
force acting upon it, of GmMe/r 2 newtons. We can use the change in gravitational field
strength with distance as a way of explaining the changing weight of an object as it
recedes from the earth. Furthermore, we can ascribe gravitational fields to other objects
such as the sun and moon, and we can use the properties of these fields to explain such
phenomena as tides and planetary orbits.
ENRICHMENT
4.8 Escape Velocity From the Earth
If the mass is constant, the force is the product of mass and acceleration. In general, an
equation of motion is given by
Fnet = ma = m dv/dt = m d2r/dt2 (4.11)
where the acceleration a is given by the time rate of change of the velocity a = dv/dt, and
where the velocity v is given by the time rate of change of the distance, v = dr/dt.
If we know the expression for F for a given situation we can equate it to m d2r/dt2, and
solve the differential equation that results. F may have various functions of distance r or
time t. For example, F may be given by the law of gravitational attraction of the earth,
G Mem/r 2 = m d2r/dt2 (4.12)
To solve this differential equation, the acceleration is expressed as a function of the
distance derivative of the velocity by multiplying by dr/dr and rearranging the variables,
We can evaluate the constant for the escape velocity by requiring the velocity of the object
to be zero when the object is an infinite distance from the earth. Then the constant is zero.
We find that the vertical velocity the object must have at the surface of the earth is
vescape = √(2GMe/re) (4.18)
where re is the radius of the earth.
Questions
1. Assume an asteroid has the same density as the earth, 5.50 x 10-3 kg/m3. Calculate the
size of the asteroid from which you could launch yourself into space by running with
the escape velocity on the surface of the asteroid. (Use your estimated maximum
running speed on earth for the escape velocity.)
SUMMARY
Use these questions to evaluate how well you have achieved the goals of this chapter. The
answers to these questions are given at the end of this summary with the number of the
section where you can find the related content material.
Definitions
1. There must be no unbalanced force on a body
a. at rest
b. with constant velocity
c. with no friction
d. with constant acceleration
e. all of these
2. The weight of a body may vary with its location because thea. mass varies
b. temperature varies
c. acceleration due to gravity varies
d. pressure varies
e. all of these
3. The coefficient of friction isa. inversely proportional to normal force
b. greater for kinetic than static case
c. greater than 1
d. theoretically determined
e. experimentally determined
4. The force due to friction alwaysa. is greater than normal force
b. opposes motion
c. is an unbalanced force
d. is zero for bodies at rest
e. equals body weight
5. Centripetal force in circular motion accounts for accelerationa. toward the center
b. away from the center
c. tangent to the path
d. opposing gravity
e. equal to zero
6. Weightlessness in orbiting satellites is equivalent to motion ina. a centrifuge
b. free fall
c. a vacuum
d. rocket launching
e. none of these
Newton's Laws
7. According to Newton's law of gravitational interaction the gravitational force between
particles is_____(attractive / repulsive) with a magnitude proportional to the product
of_____ and the square of the ________________.
8. Newton's third law postulates the existence of_________ pairs of forces which
are_________and ___________to one another.
9. Newton's second law helps us understand the motion of objects because it
relates_________ the of an object to the ________acting on the_____ object with the
inertial property of the object called _________as the proportionality constant.
10. The SI unit of force is a_________ and is equivalent to a mass of_________ being
accelerated at a constant rate________________________ .
11. Newton's first law may help explain the persistence of the status quo because it states
that an object at rest tends to __________ and moving objects tend to __________
unless acted upon by ______________.
Resolution of Forces
12. A force of 13.0 N acting upward at an angle of 23o to the horizontal has an upward
vertical component of___________ and a horizontal component of ___________.
13. A football sled of downward weight 500 N is pushed horizontally by a force of 400N.
The resultant force is ________in a direction _________ from horizontal.
Answers
1. a, b (Section 4.2) 10. newton, 1 kg, 1 m/sec2 (Section 4.3)
2. c (Section 4.3) 11. stay at rest,continue moving in a
3. e (Section 4.4) straight line of constant speed,
4. b (Section 4.4) unbalanced forces (Section 4.2)
5. a (Section 4.6) 12. 5.00 N, 12.0 N (Section 4.2)
6. b (Section 4.6) 13. 640 N, 59 o down (Section 4.2)
7. attractive, masses of the particles, 14. c (Section 4.3)
inverse of the distance between the 15. e (Section 4.3)
particles (Section 4.6) 16. d (Section 4.6)
8. action- reaction, equal, opposite (Section 17. c (Section 4.4 and 4.6)
4.2)
9. acceleration, unbalanced forces, mass
(Section 4.3)
ALGORITHMIC PROBLEMS
Listed below are the important equations from this chapter. The problems following the
equations will help you learn to translate words into equations and to solve single
concept problems.
Equations
2a • s = vf2 – vo2 (3.9)
F=ma (4.1)
ƒk = µk N (4.3)
2
F = Gm1m2/r (4.4)
g = GMe/re 2 (4.5)
F = m ar = mv2/r = 4π2 n2 mr = mrω2 (4.6, 4.7, 4.8)
-11 2 2
G = 6.6732 x 10 N- m /kg
Problems
1. Calculate the braking force needed to give a 2.00 m/sec2 negative acceleration to a
1000-kg car.
2. Compute the force needed to move a 1.00-kg block across the floor at a constant speed
if the coefficient of friction is 0.300.
3. Find the centripetal force on a satellite of mass m in a circular orbit at a distance D from
the center of the earth. The velocity of the satellite is C.
4. The centripetal force in problem 3 is equal to the gravitational attraction between the
earth and the satellite. If the mass of the earth is M,show that the value of C must be
(GM/D)½. (Hint: Use the answer to problem 3.)
5. Given that the force of friction on a sled of mass 100 kg is 50.0 N, find the acceleration
of the sled when a 550 N force is applied horizontally in an easterly direction (see
Figure 4.18).
6. Find the force necessary to accelerate a 1000-kg elevator at 1.00 m/ sec2 upward.
7. Assume you have a mass of 60.0 kg and are riding in an elevator which is accelerating
upward with an acceleration of 2.20 m/sec2. What force must your legs withstand?
8. What is the force necessary to hold a 100-g mass in a 0.100-m circle at 1200 rpm? How
does this compare with its weight?
9. What is the force of attraction between the earth and a 2.00-kg mass at the surface of the
earth?
10. Find the coefficient of friction that gives a force of friction of 5.00 N between a box and
the floor if the box weighs 50.0 N.
11. Two boys are holding a box weighing 400 N above the floor. One boy exerts a 225 N
force upward. Find the upward force exerted by the other boy.
Answers
1. 2000 N 7. 720 N
2. 2.92 N 8. 78.9 N, 80.6 times its weight
3. mC2/D 9. 19.6 N
5. 5.00 m/sec2 10. 0.100
6. 10,800 N 11. 175 N
EXERCISES
These exercises are designed to help you apply the ideas of a section to physical
situations. Then appropriate numerical answers are given at the end of each exercise.
Section 4.2
1. A picture weighing 10.0 N is hung on a hook at the midpoint of a supporting wire.
Each side of the wire makes an angle of 10 o below the horizontal. What is the tension
on the wire? [29 N]
2. A 120-N child in a swing is held by a horizontal force so that the ropes make an angle
of 37 o with the vertical. What is the tension on each rope and the horizontal force? [75
N, 90 N]
3. On a field trip, a geologist gets his automobile into a soft spot. He attaches a taut cable
to a tree 30.0 m from the car. He then hangs a 50.0-kg rock at the midpoint of the
cable, and it sags 30.0 cm. Assume there is no stretch in the cable. What is the force
acting on the car? [12,300 N]
4. Consider the foot and ankle as an isolated body, and
apply the principle of statics at the moment the ball of
one foot is in contact with the ground. Use your weight
as W. The tibia C makes an angle of 15 o with the
vertical, and the Achilles tendon T makes an angle of 21
o
with the vertical Figure 4.19. Calculate the magnitude
of the compressional force in the tibia and of the tension
in the Achilles tendon. [C= 3.42w, T = 2.48w]
5. A weight W is supported by cervical neck traction apparatus
consisting of a boom AB and a cable BC as shown in Figure 4.20.
Neglecting the weight of the boom, what is the compression of the
boom and the tension of the cable? [T = 0.600W, C = 0.800W]
Section 4.3
6. A 50.0-kg student is riding in an elevator. What is the compressive
force in her legs, if the elevator is movinga. upward at a constant
rate?
b. with an upward acceleration of 3.20 m/sec2?
c. with a deceleration of 2.40 m/sec2? [490 N, 650 N, 370 N]
7. In walking you have to accelerate and decelerate your foot. If you walk at a constant
speed of about 6.00 km/hr, the average acceleration of your foot is about 40.0 m/ sec2.
What is the force necessary to give each kilogram of your foot an acceleration of this
amount? What would this force be if you were running a 100-meter dash in 10.0 sec?
[40.0 N, 240 N]
8. A girl of mass 45.0 kg (weight ≈100 lb) escapes a fire by sliding down an improvised
rope made of sheets tied together. The maximum upward force the "rope" can stand is
270 N ( ≈ 60 lb).
a. Can she slide down the rope at a constant speed? If not, find the least acceleration
with which she can slide down the “rope.”
b. If the window is 5 m above the ground, how long will it take her to reach the side of
the anxious young man below her window. [no, 3.80 m/sec2, 1.62 sec]
9. Compare the kinetic frictional forces for the same normal force pressing the following
surfaces together: a. two dry iron surfaces
b. two wood surfaces
c. lubricated metal surfaces
d. two human body joint surfaces [a:b:c:d = 2:3: 0.4:0.05]10. A 50.0-N box is sliding
down a 30o inclined plane at a constant rate. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction?
What force would be required to move this box up the inclined plane at a constant
rate? [0.580, 50 N]
11. A floor polishing block weighing 10.0 is being pushed at a constant rate over the floor
by a 10.0-N force exerted on the handle which makes an angle of 60o with the
horizontal. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction? [0.273]
12. Find the magnitude of force F for each case shown in
Figure 4.21. All motion is at a uniform rate. Body A
weighs 10.0 N. Body B weighs 20.0 N. The coefficient of
kinetic friction is 0.300 for all surfaces. [a. 9.00 N; b. 12.0
N; c. 15.0 N]
Section 4.5
13. How far from the center of the earth must a rocket be for
its weight to be 9/10 its weight on earth? [1.05re]Section
4.6
14. A centrifuge is revolving at the rate 10,000 rpm. The
radius of revolution for a 0.100-g particle being separated
is 8.00 cm. What is the centripetal force acting on it? [8.77
N]
PROBLEMS
Each problem may involve more than one physical concept. A problem that requires
material from the enrichment section is marked by a dagger †. The numerical answer
to the problem is given in brackets at the end of the problem.
15. A train of total mass M is traveling with velocity v when the throttle is suddenly
opened and kept open for a distance d. If the accelerating force is F, find the velocity at
the end of the distance d.[√(v2 + 2dF/m)]