7 dynamics

Chapter

Dynamics deal with how bodies move as a

result of applied forces.
Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Newton’s First Law of Motion
Newton’s first law of motion states that a body will remain at rest or in
uniform motion in a straight line unless a net force is acts on it.

Law of Inertia

The mass of an object can be used as a quantitative measure of inertia.

2 kg
5 kg 3 kg

Which of the above has the highest inertia?

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Newton’s 2nd law of motion
The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the
resultant force and acts in the direction of the resultant force.

Mathematically,

Fnet = ma a in m/s2

Fnet in N m in kg

The SI unit for force is Newton (N). (1 N = 1 kg m s−2)

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Sample Calculation
A horse pulls a sledge with a force of 3 000 N. The friction due to its
motion is 2 000 N.
(a) Calculate the net force acting on the sledge.

F net = pulling force – friction

= 3 000 – 2 000
= 1 000 N

Positive net force

• Sledge will accelerate.

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 (b) The combined mass of the sledge and its rider is 500 kg. Determine
the acceleration experienced by the sledge and its rider.

Fnet = ma apply formula

1 000 = 500  a substitute numbers
a = 2 m/s2 answer with
correct units

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Newton’s third law of motion
If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B will exert an
equal and opposite force on body A.
A 4.5-kg block is placed on a table.

Questions:
1 What are the forces acting on the block?
2 What can you say about the relative size of each
force?
Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Gravitational and Normal Force
Normal force
Normal force is the push of a
surface on an object that presses
on it. The force pushes the object in
contact perpendicularly away from
the point of contact.

Gravitational force pulls the block

Gravitational pull towards the centre of the Earth.
It gives rise to the weight of the
block.

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Gravitational force give rises to weight
The pull of gravity gives rise to the weight of the block. For every 1 kg of
mass, the gravitational pull is roughly 10 N. This value of 10 N/kg is
called the gravitational field strength, g.

Normal force
Sample calculation
The mass of the block is 4.5 kg. Calculate
the weight of the block.

Weight = mg
= 4.5 kg  10 N/kg
Gravitational force = 45 N

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 The block is resting on the table, neither rising nor sinking.
What can you say about the forces acting on the block?

Normal force

A upward force > downward force

B upward force = downward force
C upward force < downward force

Gravitational force

Chapter 7: Dynamics
Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Linear momentum, p, is the vector quantity that is associated
with the motion of a body. The SI unit for momentum is N s.

Mass of body
p = mv
Velocity of body

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Impulse
When one body collides with another, it will experience an
external force, F, acting on it due to the collision.

Impulse = F × Δt time duration during

which the force acts on
Force acting on the body
the body

F = m × Δv
Δt
F × Δt = m × Δv Δp
= Δmv Hence, impulse is equal to
the change in momentum.

Chapter 7: Dynamics
 • The change in momentum, Δp, is given by the difference
in the momentum before and after the collision.

• Δp = pf − pi.

Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum

pAf + pBf = pAi + pBi

The sum of momentum The sum of momentum
after the collision before the collision.

The total momentum of an isolated system is conserved.

Chapter 7: Dynamics
Chapter 7: Dynamics
 Tangential direction

A body that undergoes uniform

circular motion has: Centripetal
force
1. Constant speed
(The speed in the tangential direction
does not change over time)
But since its direction changes with time,

It is accelerating !

2. Changing velocity - as its direction changes all the time

3. Unbalanced or resultant force called the centripetal

force. The centripetal force pulls the body towards the centre
of the circular path. Hence acceleration is towards the centre.

Chapter 7: Dynamics