NEWTONS LAW OF MOTION

Force
-

An interaction between two bodies or between

a body and its environment
A push or a pull
Vector quantity with a magnitude or direction

1 N =1 kg

m
s2

Types
Contact Force direct contact between two bodies
Normal force ( n
) When an object rests
or pushes on a surface the surface exerts a
push on it that is directed perpendicular to the
surface; upward supporting force
Friction ( f ) A surface may exert a
frictional force on an object, directed parallel to
the surface
A pulling force exerted on
Tension ( T
an object by a rope, cord, spring, etc.
Weight (w) The pull of gravity on an object;
downward force

If object is initially in motion, the net force is

F 1 0 , and the second force F 2 , with as

F 1

but different direction then the two

forces are negatives of each other

F= F 1 F2 =0

Equilibrium- when a body is acted on by no forces, or

by several forces such that their net force is zero

F=0
F x=0 F y=0

Inertial frame of reference A frame reference in

which Newtons first law is valid
Frame of reference How one knows that an
object is moving (ex. A ball is thrown; you know
it moves because the street is your frame of
reference)
Most common frame of reference: the Earth

Newtons

Second

Law:

Law

of

Acceleration

If a net external force acts on a body, the body

accelerates. The direction of acceleration is the same
as the direction of the net force. The mas of the body
times the acceleration of the body equals the force
vector.

Fundamental forces of nature involve interaction

between subatomic particles
Gravitational force (w) The force with
which the earth, moon, or other massively
large object attracts another object towards
itself
Electrical Force
Magnetic Force
Equations
Net force vector sum (resultant) of all forces acting
on a body

= F 1 + F 2 + F 3+....= F
R

Component version

F=m a
F x =ma x F y =m a y

External forces forces exerted on the body by other

bodies in its environment
Only external forces are included in the sum
-

w=mg
w=m

R x = F x R y = F y

Magnitude

R= R x 2+ R y 2

Magnitude for 3D problems

R= R x 2+ R y 2+ R z2

Direction

Fy
Fx

()
=tan 1
Newtons First Law: Law of Inertia
A body acted on by no net force moves with constant
velocity (which may be zero) and zero acceleration
Inertia The tendency of a body to keep moving
remain at rest

Mass (m) is constant

Valid only in inertial frame of reference and not
in any of the accelerating vehicles
Mass vs. Weight
Weight force that makes a body accelerate
downward
Mass- Characterizes inertial properties of a
body; greater mass needs greater force

g is the magnitude of

9.8

m
s2

), the

acceleration due to gravity so g is always a

positive number by definition
w is the magnitude of the weight and is also
always positive

Newtons Third Law: Law of Interaction

If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B exerts
a force on body A. These two forces have the same
magnitude but are opposite in direction. These two
forces act on different bodies.

F12 = F21
F12 is the force by 1 on 2
F21 isthe force by 2 on 1

Tension Magnitude of force acting on that

object; force of spring on object

spring restoring force

F
x distance when spring iscompressedstretched
N
k spring constant
m

( )

Friction
A force by surface on object; if the surface
f =0 but there is still
is frictionless,
normal force
Kinetic friction ( f k ) friction that
occurs if an object is moving

f k =k F N
k coef .of kinetic friction
Static friction ( f s

) friction forces
that act when there is no relative motion;
object is at rest or about to move

f s s F N
S coef . of static friction
f s= s F N f s max .

equilibrium (at rest or moving w/

constant v)
If the problem involves more than one
body and the bodies interact with each
other, use third law
The magnitude of the force is always
positive but its components may be
positive or negative
Set the sum of x-components to zero, set
the sum of y- components to zero but
never add x- and y- components in a
single equation
If there are two or more bodies repeat the
summation of the bodies, except when
bodies are interacting with each other use
third law
Dynamics of Particles
Use second law for any problem that
involves forces acting on an accelerating
body
Identify target variable, usually an
acceleration or force
Never include the quantity
m a in
your FBD, its not a force
Always double check if answer has correct
units and algebraic signs
Circular Motion
When a particle moves with a constant speed
and the acceleration is always directed
toward the center of the circle
Centripetal acceleration
2

v
arad =
R

v is speed and R is radius

Period

T=

2 R
V

UCM can result from any combination of forces as

long as
F is always directed towards
the center of the circle and has a constant
magnitude

Solving Strategies
Equilibrium of a Particle
Use the first law for any problem that
involves forces acting on a body in

Fnet =m arad =m

v2
R