A short note on Newton’s Laws MAT272

Generally, the Newton’s Law is about a resultant force that has directly proportional to the acceleration
of an object. The force F~ in Newton’s Law is given by F~ = m~a in which m is a mass (in kilogram) of
the object and ~a is an acceleration of the object. The unit of F~ is newton N. There are three types of
Newton’s Law which are Newton’s First, Second and Third Laws.

1 Newton’s First Law

Newton’s First Law or also known as Law of Inertia states that an object remains in their condition, at
rest or moves with a constant velocity unless external force influences it. Simplifying that, |~a| = 0 ms−2 .

Example 1. A body is at rest when it subjected to the forces shown in the diagram. Find k and m.

m m 20N

98N

Solution
When a body is at rest, |~a| = 0 hence |F~ | = 0.
Resolving horizontal forces into components, Resolving vertical forces into components,

20 − mx = 0; the body at rest ky − 98 = 0; the body at rest

∴ mx = 20 N. ∴ ky = 98 N.

since they are the horizontal forces then since they are the vertical forces then
my = 0, so kx = 0, so
q q
|m| = (mx )2 + (my )2 ; |k| = (kx )2 + (ky )2 ;
p q
= (m )2 + 0; = 0 + (ky )2 ;
p x
= (mx )2 ; q
= (ky )2 ;
= mx ;
= ky ;
= 20 N.
= 98 N.
However, for convenience of calculation, we will simplify the steps as follows

20 + (−m) = 0; k + (−98) = 0;
∴ m = 20 N. ∴ = 98 N.
Example 2. A body moves horizontally at a constant 5 ms−1 subject to the forces shown. Find P.

v = 5 ms−1

300 N m P

Solution

F~ = m~a;
P + (−300) = 0 (constant speed);
∴ P = 300 N.

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A short note on Newton’s Laws MAT272

2 Newton’s Second Law

6 0 ms−2 .
Newton’s Second Law is applied when the object moves with some acceleration, |~a| =

Example 3. Find the resultant force that would give a body of mass 3 kg an acceleration of 2 ms−2 .

Solution
In this example, we will state the law as F~ | = m|~a| since the direction is undetermined.

|F~ | = m|~a| = (3 kg)(2 ms−2 ) = 6 N.

Example 4. Find, in vector form, the acceleration is produced in a body of mass 1kg subject to
forces (2~i + ~j)N and (3~i − 4~j)N.

Solution
Let F~ = [(2 + 3)~i + (1 − 4)~j] N = [5~i − 3~j] N then

F~ = m~a;
5~i − 3~j = (1)(~a);
h i
∴ ~a = 5~i − 3~j ms−2 .
√
The magnitude and direction of acceleration is |~a| = 34 ms−2 and 329o from ~i.

Example 5. A pack of bricks of mass 100kg is hoisted up the side of a house. Find the force, by
neglecting the mass of rope, in the lifting rope when the bricks are lifted with an acceleration of 3ms−1 .

Solution
T since the tension T and weight W forces involve
direction,
a
100kg F~ = m~a;
T +W = 100(3);
T + (100)(−9.8) = 300;
W = 100g ∴T = 1280 N.
Example 6. A tile of mass 2 kg falls from the roof of a building and hits the ground, 16.6 m below,
2 s later. Assuming the resistance experienced by the tile is constant throughout the motion, find the
resistance.

Solution
Fr
Finding the magnitude of acceleration, Finding the resistance force Fr ,
1 F~ = m~a;
s = ut + at2 ;
2kg 2 Fr + W = 2(−8.3);
a −16.6 = (0)(2) + 2a;
Fr + (2)(−9.8) = −16.6;
a = −8.3 .
∴ Fr = 3 N.
∴ |a| = 8.3 ms−2 .
W = 2g
Note that, a resistance force is a force which is the direction is opposite to the velocity of the object.

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