APPLYING NEWTON’S LAWS

->systems in equilbrium (∑F = 0)

-> zero acceleration

Example: A 1kg mass is hanged on a rope and tied

on the ceiling. Find the tension in the rope. y

Solution:

F x 0 T
x
F y T w 0
1 kg
T w
T  mg w
 (1kg)(9.8m /s 2 )
T  9.8N

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Example: Find the tension in each rope.
Solution: Rope 1

FBD for A: FBD for B:

y y
mB=2kg
T2 T1
Rope 2
x x

mA=3kg
wA  mA g T2 wB  mB g

F y  T2-mA g  0 F y  T1  T2-mB g  0
T2  mA g T1  T2  mB g
 (3kg)(9.8m /s )
2  29.4N  (2kg)(9.8m /s 2 )
T2  29.4N T1  49N

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Problem 1: What must be the mass of A in order
for the system to be in equilibrium? What is the B
tension in the rope?
A

30o

Problem 2: A 1-kg mass is hanged on the ceiling 45o 45o

using 3 ropes (see Figure). Find the tension in
each rope. 1 2

1kg

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 ->systems with non-zero acceleration (∑F = ma)
a
Example: Find the acceleration of the system and Rope 1 Rope 2
the tension in each rope. mC=2kg

Solution: a a
mA=1kg mB=3kg

FBD for A: FBD for B: FBD for C:

y y y
a
C
a T1 T2 a
T1 T2
T1  mA g  mA a (1)
x
T2  mB g  mBa
x x
( 2)
wA  mA g wB  mB g wC  mC g T2 T1  mC a (3)

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 a
Example: Find the acceleration of the system and Rope 2
Rope 1
the tension in each rope. mC=2kg

Solution:
a a
T1  mA g  mA a (1)
mA=1kg mB=3kg
T2  mB g  mBa ( 2)
T2 T1  mC a (3)

Eliminate T1 in (1) & (3) Eliminate T2 in (4) & (2)

a
m B  m A  g
T1  mA g  mA a T2  mA g  mA a  mC a m A  m B  m C 
T2 T1  mC a T2  mB g  mBa

3kg  1kg  (9.8m/s 2 )
1kg  2kg  3kg 
T2  mA g  mA a  mC a ( 4)  m A g  m B g  m A a  mC a  m B a
m
mB  mA g  mA  mB  mC a a  3.27 2
s

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 a
Example: Find the acceleration of the system and Rope 2
Rope 1
the tension in each rope. mC=2kg

Solution:
a a
To solve for T1 we use (1)
mA=1kg mB=3kg
T1  mA g  mA a
T1  mA g  mA a
 (1kg)(9.8m /s 2 )  (1kg)(3.27 m/s 2 )
T1  13.07N

To solve for T2 we use (2)

T2  mB g  mBa
T2  mB g  mBa
 (3kg)(9.8m /s 2 )  (3kg)(3.27 m/s 2 ) T2  19.59N

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Problem 1: Find the acceleration of the system (magnitude & direction) and the tension in
the rope.

60kg
B
3.86m/s2
A
600N
5kg

30o 60kg

Problem 2: Black Spider-Man tries to save Red

Spider-Man by pulling his spider web with a horizontal 3.86m/s2
force of 600N but Venom suddenly pulled them down
(using his weight) and they all move with an acceleration
of 3.86m/s2. What must be the mass of Venom in order
for him to do that?

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 a
Example: Find the acceleration of the system. The Rope 2
Rope 1
coefficient of kinetic friction between block C and mC=2kg
the table is 0.30.
a a
Solution: mA=1kg mB=3kg

FBD for A: FBD for B: FBD for C:

y y y
a
a T1 T2 a C f k  kC
T2
x x
T2
x f k  k wC
f f k   k mC g
wA  mA g wB  mB g wC  mC g

T1  mA g  mA a T2  mB g  mBa T2 T1  f k  mC a T2  T1  k mC g  mC a
(1) ( 2) (3)

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 a
Example: Find the acceleration of the system. The Rope 2
Rope 1
coefficient of kinetic friction between block C and mC=2kg
the table is 0.30.
a a
Solution: mA=1kg mB=3kg

T1  mA g  mA a (1)
T2  mB g  mBa ( 2)
T2  T1  k mC g  mC a (3)

a
m B  m A -  k m C  g
m A  m B  m C 
m
a  2.29 2 The previous answer (frictionless surface) is 3.27 m/s2.
s

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Problem 1: What must be the coefficient of static friction s in order for the system to
remain at rest (in equilibrium)?

2.5kg

30o

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 A
Problem 2: Find the acceleration of the
system if all blocks rub against the
surfaces of the table. (The coefficient 5kg
60kg
of kinetic friction between the blocks
and the table surface is 0.40)

C
1kg B
10kg

60o 45o

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-> force exerted by a fluid on a body moving through it f
-> friction due to bodies moving through a fluid
-> Ex. air drag (air resistance)

For an object falling through the air, the air drag is

f  Dv 2 a

 F  f  w  ma
Dv  mg  ma
2

w
Dvt  mg  0
2

mg
vt  Terminal speed
D
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Centripetal (radial) acceleration

v2
arad 
R
Centripetal force
2
v
Fnet m
R

Beware misconception with centrifugal force (does not exist)

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