Module No.

Newton’s Laws

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Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module, the students are expected to be able to:

1. Discuss and explain the concepts regarding Newton’s Laws

2. Differentiate the different kinds of forces in problems about Newton’s Laws

3. Correctly create free body diagrams in solving problems about Newton’s Laws

4. Utilize the formulas correctly and orderly, especially in solving complex problems

about Newton’s Laws

Theory:

Newton’s Laws, also known as the Laws of Motion, are the concepts that describe

the physical interaction of objects in consideration with their motion.

Basic Concepts:

A. MOTION - It is the measure of inertia of an object. Inertia is the tendency of

an object at rest to stay at rest, or of an object in motion to stay in motion with

unchanged velocity.

B. STANDARD KILOGRAM - It is an object that serves as the basis of comparison

for the measurement of the masses of other objects. The mass of this object is

known to be 1 kilogram or, equivalently, 1000 grams.

C. FORCE - It is that which changes the velocity of an object. It is a vector quantity,

outside of the system being considered.

D. NET EXTERNAL FORCE - It is the total magnitude of the forces acting on an

object. The direction, specifically the horizontal and vertical components, of

these forces are always considered.

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 E. NEWTON - It is the SI unit or standard unit of force. One Newton (1N) is the

force needed to accelerate a 1kg object at 1m/s2. 1N = 1kg m/s2

Newton’s Laws or Laws of Motion:

A. NEWTON’S FIRST LAW - An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object

in motion will remain in motion with constant velocity, unless an external force

acts on it. Force is the changer of motion.

B. NEWTON’S SECOND LAW - If the resultant (or net) force acting on an object
is not 0, then the object accelerates in the direction of the force. The

acceleration is proportional to the force and inversely proportional to the mass

F
of the object. a or F  ma
m

C. NEWTON’S THIRD LAW - For each force exerted on an object, there is an

equal, but oppositely directed, force acting on another object. These two
forces are acting on two interacting objects. This law is often called the Law of

Action and Reaction.

More Concepts:

A. LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION - When two masses m1 and m2

gravitationally interact, they attract each other with forces of equal magnitude.

For point masses (or spherically symmetric bodies), the attractive force FG is
m1m2
given by FG  G where r is the distance between mass
r2
centers, and where G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2/kg2 when Fg is in Newton (N), m1 and

m2 are in kilograms, and r is in meters.

B. WEIGHT (Fw) - It is the gravitational force acting downward on an object. On

the Earth, it is the gravitational force exerted on the object by the planet. It is

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 given by the formulaFw=mg where m is the mass of the object and g is the

gravitational acceleration. On Earth, g=9.81m/s2

C. TENSILE FORCE (𝑭
⃗ T) - The tensile force acting on a string or chain or tendon

is the applied force tending to stretch it. The magnitude of this force is the

tension (𝐹T).

D. FRICTION FORCE (𝑭
⃗ 𝒇 ) - It is the tangential force acting on an object that

opposes the sliding of that object on an adjacent surface with which it is in

contact. It is parallel to the surface and opposite in direction of motion. Only

when the applied force exceeds the maximum static friction force will an object

begin to slide.

E. NORMAL FORCE ( 𝑭
⃗ 𝑵 ) - It is the component of the supporting force

perpendicular to the surface.

F. COEFFICIENT OF KINETIC FRICTION (µk) - It is defined for the case in which

G. COEFFICIENT OF STATIC FRICTION (µx) - It is defined for the case in which

one surface is just on the verge of sliding across another surface.

𝐹𝑓 (max)
µ𝑥 =
𝐹𝑁

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Sample Problems:

1. The object in the figure below weighs 50N and is supported by a cord. Find the

tension in the cord.

Two forces act on the object, the upward pull of the cord and the downward pull

of the gravity. We then create a free body diagram as shown on the right. Since the

components of each force are already present (the horizontal and vertical

component), we can write the first condition for equilibrium at once, taking up and to
the right as positive directions.

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 becomes 0 = 0
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 becomes 𝐹𝑇 − 𝐹𝑊 = 0

We can now solve for FT in the second equation which gives FT = 50N.

2. A horizontal force of 140 N is needed to pull a 60 kg box across the horizontal floor

at a constant speed. What should be the coefficient of friction between the floor
and the box?

First, we interpret the problem and write a free body diagram. Because the box
does not move up or down, ay = 0. Therefore,

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 ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 gives FN  mg  (m)(0m / s 2 )

from which we find that FN = mg = (60 kg)(9.81 m/s2) = 588.6 N. Now, since the box is

moving horizontally at a constant speed, ax = 0 and so

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 gives 140 N – Ff = 0

𝐹𝑓 140 𝑁
From which Ff = 140 N. Solving for µ𝑘 = 𝐹 = 588.6 = 0.238
𝑁 𝑁

3. The only force acting on a 5.0 kg object has components Fx = 20 N and Fy = 30 N.

Find the acceleration of the object.

We make use of ∑Fx = max and ∑Fy = may to obtain

∑ 𝐹𝑥 20𝑁
𝑎𝑥 = = 5.0𝑘𝑔 = 4.0 𝑚⁄𝑠 2
𝑚

∑ 𝐹𝑦 30𝑁
𝑎𝑦 = = 5.0𝑘𝑔 = 6.0 𝑚⁄𝑠 2
𝑚

Based on the diagram on the right, we can see that

𝑎 = √(4.0)2 + (6.0)2 𝑚⁄𝑠 2 = 7.2 𝑚⁄𝑠 2

And θ = Arctan (6.0/4.0) = 56o

4. An 5000-kg engine pulls a 25,000-kg train along a level track and gives it an
acceleration a1 = 1.0 m/s2. What acceleration (a2) would the engine give to a

20,000-kg train?

For a given engine force, the acceleration is inversely proportional to the total mass.

Thus

a1m1 = a2m2

m1 5,000kg  25,000kg
a2  a1  (1.0m / s 2 )  1.2m / s 2
m2 5,000kg  20,000kg

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5. A 200-N wagon is to be pulled up a 30o ncline at constant speed. How large a
i

force parallel to the incline is needed if friction effects are negligible?

Since the wagon moves at a constant velocity in one direction, it is in translational

equilibrium and the first condition of equilibrium applies to it.

force exerted on the wagon, and the normal force that supports the wagon. For

situations involving inclines, it is conventional to take the x-axis parallel to the incline

and the y-axis perpendicular to it. After taking components along these axes, we can
write the first condition for equilibrium:

F x 0 becomes F  0.50 Fw  0

F y 0 FN  0  0.87 Fw  0

Solving the first equation and recalling that F w = 200N, we find that F = 0.50 Fw.

The required pulling force is 0.10kN or 100N

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Assignments:

1. Find the acceleration of the blocks in the diagram below if friction forces are

negligible. What is the tension in the cord connecting them?

(Hint: Treat them as a singular object)

20.0 kg 10.0 kg 20.0 kg

FT1 FT2 F=30N

2. If the weight of the traffic light is 150N, find the tensions in the cord.

3. Two blocks, of masses m1 and m2, are pushed by a force F as shown in the
diagram below. The coefficient of friction between each block and the table is

0.40. What must be the value of F if the blocks are to have an acceleration of 150

cm/s2? How large a force does m1 then exert on m2? Use m1 = 500g and m2 =

750g. (Hint: Remember to work in SI units)

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4. In the figure below, the coefficient of kinetic friction between block A and the

table is 0.20. Also, mA = 25kg, mB = 15kg. How far will block B drop in the first 3.0

s after the system is released?

5. In the figure below, the weights of the objects are 200 N and 300 N. The pulleys
are essentially frictionless and massless. Pulley P1 has a stationary axle but pulley

P2 is free to move up and down. Find the tensions F T1 and FT2 and the acceleration

of each body. (Hint: A rope has the same tension all throughout)

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Supplementary Problems:

1. In the system below, friction and the mass of the pulley are both negligible. Find

the acceleration of m2 if m1 = 300g, m2 = 500g, and F = 1.50 N.

Ans. 0.882m/s2

2. In the system shown, force F accelerates block m1 to the right. Find its acceleration
in terms of F and the coefficient of friction uk at the contact surfaces.
F  2µ k m2 g
Ans. = a   µk g
m1  m2

3. Compute the mass of the moon, assuming it to be a sphere of radius 2000 km.

The gravitational acceleration on the moon is g moon=1.62m/s2

4. 3 blocks with masses 6.0 kg, 9.0 kg, and 10 kg are connected as shown in the figure

below. The coefficient of friction between the table and the 10-kg block is 0.20.

Find (a) the acceleration of the system and (b) the tension in the cord on the left

and in the cord on the right.

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5. (a) What is the smallest force parallel to a 37o incline needed to keep a 100-N

weight from sliding down the incline if the coefficients of static and kinetic friction
are both 0.30? (b) What parallel force is required to keep the weight moving up the

incline at a constant speed? (c) If the parallel pushing force is 94 N, what will be the

acceleration of the object? (d) If the object in (c) starts from rest, how far will it

move in 10 s?

Ans. (a) 36N; (b) 84 N; (c) 0.98m/s2 up the plane; (d) 49m

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