Chapter 4:

Newton's 2
Law of Motion
nd

Remember Newtons 1st Law of Motion?

Every object continues in a state of

rest or of uniform speed in a straight
line unless acted on by a nonzero
net
force.
- from Newton's Principia Mathematica
Philosophiae Naturalis

Force causes Acceleration

Acceleration depends on the net force.

Acceleration is directly proportional to net force.
To increase the acceleration of an object, you
must increase the net force acting on it.

Acceleration ~ net force

Acceleration also has the same direction as the

net force that causes it.

Mass resists Acceleration

Acceleration is inversely proportional to mass.
The same force applied to:

Twice the mass produces half the acceleration.

3 times the mass, produces 1/3 the acceleration.

1
Acceleration ~
mass

Newtons Second Law of Motion

- Isaac Newton was the first to connect the
concepts of force and mass to produce
acceleration.

net force
Acceleration ~
mass

Newtons Second Law of Motion

Newtons Second Law The Law of Acceleration
relates acceleration to force and mass.
The acceleration produced by a net force on an object
is directly proportional to the net force, is in the same
direction as the net force, and is inversely proportional
to the mass of the object.

net force
Acceleration ~
mass

Newtons Second Law of Motion

In equation form:

Acceleration

net force
mass

Example:
If net force acting on object is doubled
objects acceleration will be doubled.
But if the net force and the mass of object is doubled
objects acceleration will stay the same.

Newtons Second Law of Motion

Mass vs. Weight

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter or

inertia of a physical object.

Independent of gravity.
Greater inertia greater mass

Measured in kilograms (kg).

Weight

The force on an object due to gravity.

Scientific unit of force is the Newton (N).

Mass vs. Weight

- Mass and weight are often used interchangeably
in everyday conversation.
- But mass, however, is different and more
fundamental than weight.
For example:
The weight of an object on the Moon
is one-sixth less than on Earth.
But the mass of an object is the
same in both locations.

Mass vs. Weight

1 kilogram weighs 10 newtons
(9.8 newtons to be precise).

Relationship between kilograms and pounds:

1 kg = 2.2 lb 10 N [at the Earths surface]

1 lb = 4.45 N

Friction

Friction occurs when surfaces slide over one

another.
It reduces the net force and in turn also the
acceleration.
Friction always occurs opposite the direction of
motion.

The Force of Friction

depends on the kinds of

material and how much
they are pressed together.
is due to tiny surface
bumps and to the
stickiness of the atoms
on a materials surface.

Example: Friction between a crate on a smooth wooden

floor is less than that on a rough floor.

The Force of Friction

Two Types of Friction:

STATIC friction keeps the object from moving
to begin with.
SLIDING friction goes against the direction
of motion while an object is moving.
Depending on the surface, static friction is
generally greater than sliding friction.

Notes about Friction

The force of friction does NOT depend on the

speed.
Friction does NOT depend on the area of contact.
Also, friction is not restricted to solids sliding over
one another, but to liquids and gases (aka 'fluids')
as well.

PHYS 1305: Intro to Physics

I

Chapter 4:

FREE

Free Fall
The greater the mass of the
object

the greater its force of attraction

toward the Earth.
the smaller its tendency to move
i.e., the greater its inertia.

So, the acceleration is the same

because the ratio of the force of
gravity to the mass of the object
is the SAME.

Free Fall

Free Fall
When acceleration is ~10 m/s2 or g Free Fall:

Newtons second law provides an explanation

for the equal accelerations of freely falling
objects of various masses.

Acceleration is equal when air resistance is

negligible.

Acceleration depends on force (weight) and

inertia.

Non-Free Fall
When an object falls downward
through the air it experiences
- force of gravity pulling it
downward.
- air drag force acting upward.

Acceleration =

mg -R
m

Non-Free Fall
When acceleration of fall is less than g [a < g],
non-free fall:

occurs when air resistance is nonnegligible or significant.

depends on two things:
1. speed
2. frontal surface area.

Non-Free Fall

When the object is moving fast enough that

force of gravity equals its air resistance, then
there is NO net force recall Newtons 1st Law.
Which means:
NO acceleration, or
The velocity doesn't
change.

Non-Free Fall
Terminal speed

occurs when acceleration

terminates (when air resistance
equals weight and net force is
zero).
Terminal velocity

same as terminal speed, with

direction specified.

Non-Free Fall

MORE force (weight) for air

resistance to overcome.
MORE time to accelerate.
last to reach terminal
velocity.
FASTER terminal velocity.
1 st to reach the ground.

less force (weight) for air

resistance to overcome.
less time to accelerate.
1 st to reach terminal
velocity.
slower terminal velocity.
last to reach the ground.

Free Fall vs. Non-Free Fall

Without air (in vacuum)

With air (no vacuum)