Chapter 5

Force and Motion-I

Until now, we have not discussed “What causes motion”.

Goals of this chapter are to understand

1. Newton’s First Law
2. Newton’s Second Law
3. Newton’s Third Law
4. Some Particular Forces

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Laws:
❑ Force:

• “push or pull” acting on an object

• It causes acceleration

PUSH 𝐹Ԧ PUSH

PULL

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Laws:
❑ Newtonian Mechanics:

• It is the study of the relation between a force and acceleration

• It is not valid for speeds near the speed of light

• It is not valid for atomic scale

• It can be considered a special case in regards to the special theory of relativity

and quantum mechanics

Special
Theory of
Relativity

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Laws:
❑ Imagine a perfectly smooth floor (frictionless surface).

→ No friction. (Friction is a force)

→ Nothing stops the object. It will slide forever in a straight line.

→ From this observation, a body will keep moving with constant velocity
if no force acts on it

𝑣 = constant
No friction!

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Laws:

❑ Newton’s First law:

If no net force acts on a body (𝐹Ԧnet = 0 ), the body’s velocity cannot change;
that is the body cannot accelerate.

Newton’s first law defines inertial reference frames (or simply inertial frames)
as places where objects move in a straight line without any force.

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion
❑ Characteristics of Forces

▪ Unit: N, the newton; 1 N = 1 kg m/s2

▪ Forces are vectors
▪ If several forces act on a body (say 𝐹𝐴 , 𝐹𝐵 , and 𝐹𝐶 ) the net force 𝐹net is defined as:

𝐹Ԧnet = 𝐹Ԧ𝐴 + 𝐹Ԧ𝐵 + 𝐹Ԧ𝐶

Vector sum of all forces on an object

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion
• Inertial reference frames: It is the reference frame in which Newton’s three laws
hold.

A frictionless puck, pushed from the north pole,

viewed from a stationary frame in space

straight line

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion
• Newton's first law is not true in all frames

A frictionless puck, pushed from the north pole,

Earth’s rotation
viewed from a point on Earth’s rotating surface
causes an apparent
deflection The Earth's surface is a non-inertial frame.
Not a straight line A fictitious force would be needed to explain
deflection.

Note. We consider Earth's surface an inertial frame

because its centripetal acceleration is negligible compared to g (gravitational acceleration)

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion
What is Mass?
• The mass of a body is the characteristic that relates a force on the body to the
resulting acceleration
• Mass is a measure of a body’s resistance to a change in motion (change in velocity)
• It is not the same as weight, density, size, etc.
• Mass specifies how much inertia an object has
1
• For a given net force, mass is inversely proportional to acceleration: 𝑚 ∝
𝑎
𝑭
𝒎𝟎 𝐹 = 1 N, 𝑚0 = 1 kg, 𝑎0 = 1 m/s2
𝒂𝟎
𝑭
𝐹 = 1 N, 𝑚𝑋 =? , 𝑎𝑋 is measured
𝒎𝑿
𝒂𝑿 𝑚𝑋 𝑎0 𝑎0
= → 𝑚𝑋 = 𝑚0
𝑚0 𝑎𝑋 𝑎𝑋

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion

Summarize these behaviors as:

❑ Newton’s Second law: The net force on a body is equal to the product of the
body’s mass and its acceleration. In equation form,
𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑚𝑎Ԧ

In component equations,
𝐹net,𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 , 𝐹net,𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 , and 𝐹net,𝑧 = 𝑚𝑎𝑧

If the net force on a body is zero: 𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑚𝑎Ԧ = 0 ⟹ 𝑎Ԧ = 0 (acceleration is zero)

The forces and the body are in equilibrium

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion
To solve problems with forces, we often draw a free-body diagram
Free-body diagram (FBD):
• Only the object of interest is shown, represented as a dot
• Forces are drawn as vector arrows with their tails on the body
• Coordinate system is usually included as needed (not a strict part of the FBD).
• Acceleration may be shown as a separate, labeled vector arrow (optional)

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion

• What is a system?
A system is a body or a collection of bodies chosen for analysis

We have the following choice for the “system”.

(a) System = Block A + Block B. The only horizontal force is 𝐹Ԧapp .

(b) System = Block A. There are now two horizontal forces: 𝐹Ԧapp and 𝐹Ԧ𝐴𝐵 .

(c) System = Block B. The only horizontal force is 𝐹Ԧ𝐴𝐵 .

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5-1 Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion
❑ Internal vs. External Forces on Bodies
• External Force: Any force exerted by an object outside the system. (𝐹Ԧapp )
Only external forces can accelerate the system.

• Internal Force: Forces between objects within the system. (𝐹Ԧ𝐴𝐵 and 𝐹Ԧ𝐵𝐴 )
These always cancel out in pairs.

• Net force on a system = Sum of external forces

• Never include internal forces in a system’s free-body diagram.

They do not cause system acceleration.

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Sample Problem 1
In the overhead view of the figure, a 2.0 kg
cookie tin is accelerated at 3.0 m/s2 in the
direction shown by 𝑎,Ԧ over a frictionless
horizontal surface. The acceleration is caused by
three horizontal forces, only two of which are
shown: 𝐹Ԧ1 of magnitude 10 N and 𝐹Ԧ2 of
magnitude 20 N. What is the third force 𝐹Ԧ3 ?

From Newton’s 2nd law,

𝐹Ԧnet = 𝐹Ԧ1 + 𝐹Ԧ2 + 𝐹Ԧ3 = 𝑚𝑎,
Ԧ 𝐹net = 6 N at angle 50◦ above the x-axis.

𝐹3𝑥 = 𝐹net,𝑥 − 𝐹1𝑥 − 𝐹2𝑥 = 6 N × cos 50° − −10 N × cos 30° = 12.52 N ≅ 13 N

𝐹3𝑦 = 𝐹net,𝑦 − 𝐹1𝑦 − 𝐹2𝑦 = 6 N × sin 50° − −10 N × sin 30° − 20 N

= −10.40 N ≅ −10 N ∴ 𝐹Ԧ3 = 𝐹3𝑥 መi + 𝐹3𝑦 መj = (13 N)መi − (10 N)መj

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 5-2 Some Particular Forces
➢ Gravitational Force:

• A pull that acts on a body, directed toward a second body

• Generally we consider situations where the second body is the Earth

𝑦 In free fall (y direction, with no drag from the air):

𝐹Ԧg = 𝑚g = −𝑚gመj = −𝐹gመj

Earth ⟹ 𝐹g = 𝑚g: magnitude of the gravitational force

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5-2 Some Particular Forces
➢ Weight (𝑊):

• Magnitude of the net force required to prevent the body from falling freely

𝒚 𝑊 prevents the body from falling freely

𝐠 𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑚𝑎,
Ԧ (Newton’s second law)

𝑎Ԧ = 0
𝐹Ԧg
𝐹Ԧnet = −𝐹g መj + 𝑊መj = 0 ⟹ 𝑊 = 𝐹g = 𝑚g

• Weight 𝑊 of a body is equal to the magnitude 𝐹g

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5-2 Some Particular Forces

• Normal Force:
• If you are standing on a surface, the push back on you from the surface
(due to deformation) is the normal force.
• Normal means perpendicular
• For rigid bodies, deformation is negligible.

• When a body presses against a surface,

the surface deforms and pushes on the body with a
normal force 𝐹Ԧ𝑁 perpendicular to surface.
• Example: A block of mass 𝑚 rests on a table. (𝑎𝑦 = 0)

𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑚𝑎Ԧ (Newton’s second law)

𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑚g + 𝐹Ԧ𝑁 = −𝑚gመj + 𝐹𝑁 መj

𝐹net,𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 = 𝐹𝑁 − 𝑚g = 0 → 𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚g

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5-2 Some Particular Forces

Checkpoint 1

In the figure, is the magnitude of the normal force 𝐹Ԧ𝑁 greater than, less than, or
equal to 𝑚g if the block and table are in an elevator moving upward (a) at
constant speed and (b) at increasing speed?

𝑚𝑎𝑦 = 𝐹𝑁 − 𝑚g
𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 + 𝑚g = 𝑚 𝑎𝑦 + g

(a) 𝑎𝑦 = 0 ⟹ 𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚g
equal to 𝑚g (no acceleration)

(b) Increasing speed means 𝑎𝑦 > 0 ⟹ 𝐹𝑁 > 𝑚g

greater than 𝑚g (with positive acceleration)

Elevator moving upward

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5-2 Some Particular Forces

• Frictional force or simply friction:

• Occurs when one object slides or attempts to slide over another
• Directed along the surface, opposite to the direction of intended motion

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5-2 Some Particular Forces

• Tension force (𝑇):

▪ A rope (or cord, cable, string) is attached to a body and pulled taut
▪ Rope pulls on the body with force 𝑇 directed along the rope
▪ The rope is said to be under tension
▪ The tension in the rope is the magnitude 𝑇 of the 𝑇 on the body

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5-2 Some Particular Forces

• Useful assumptions: A massless and unstretchable rope

• A massless and unstretchable rope exists only as a connection between two bodies
o It pulls on both with the same force magnitude, 𝑇
• True even if the bodies and rope are accelerating, and even if the rope runs
around a massless, frictionless pulley

Massless,
frictionless
pulley

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Checkpoint 2

The suspended body in the figure weighs 75 N. Is 𝑇 equal to, greater than, or less
than 75 N when the body is moving upward (a) at constant speed, (b) at
increasing speed, and (c) at decreasing speed?

𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑚𝑎Ԧ (Newton’s second law)

𝐹Ԧnet = 𝑇 + 𝑚g = 𝑇መj − 𝑚gመj = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 j

𝑚𝑎𝑦 = 𝑇 − 𝑚g ⟹ 𝑇 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑦 + g

Answer:
(a) constant speed, 𝑎𝑦 = 0, 𝑇 = 𝑚g, equal to 75 N
(b) increasing speed, 𝑎𝑦 > 0, 𝑇 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑦 + g > 𝑚g,
greater than 75 N
(c) decreasing speed, 𝑎𝑦 < 0, 𝑇 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑦 + g < 𝑚g,
less than 75 N

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Question
A hot-air balloon of mass M is descending vertically with downward acceleration
of magnitude 𝑎. How much mass (ballast) must be thrown out to give the balloon
an upward acceleration of magnitude 𝑎? Assume that the upward force from the
air does not change. (The upward force remains constant as it depends on the
balloon's volume, not its total mass. )

Assume the upward force magnitude is 𝐹𝑢 .

From Newton’s second law, 𝐹𝑢 − 𝑀g = −𝑀𝑎 → 𝐹𝑢 = 𝑀(g − 𝑎)

After throwing out mass 𝑚, apply the Newton’s second law one more time,
𝐹𝑢 − (𝑀 − 𝑚)g = (𝑀 − 𝑚)𝑎

𝐹𝑢 − 𝑀 − 𝑚 g = 𝑀 g − 𝑎 − 𝑀 − 𝑚 g = −𝑀𝑎 + 𝑚g

−𝑀𝑎 + 𝑚g = 𝑀𝑎 − 𝑚𝑎 2𝑀𝑎
𝑚=
(g + 𝑎)

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5-3 Newton’s Third Law of Motion
When two bodies interact by exerting forces on each other, the forces on the bodies
from each other are always equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

𝐹Ԧ𝐵𝐶 = −𝐹Ԧ𝐶𝐵 third-law force pair

Force acting on 𝐵 from 𝐶

▪ The force exerted on 𝐵 by 𝐶 (𝐹Ԧ𝐵𝐶 ) and the force exerted on 𝐶 by 𝐵 (𝐹Ԧ𝐶𝐴 )

constitutes a third-law force pair.

▪ These forces do not cancel out because they act on different bodies

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5-3 Newton’s Third Law of Motion

𝐹Ԧ𝐶𝐸 = −𝐹Ԧ𝐸𝐶

a third-law
force pair

𝐹Ԧ𝐸𝐶 : Force exerted on Earth by cantaloupe

a third-law
force pair

𝐹Ԧ𝐶𝑇 = −𝐹Ԧ𝑇𝐶

𝐹Ԧ𝑇𝐶 : Force exerted on table by cantaloupe

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Checkpoint 3
Suppose that the cantaloupe and table of the figure are in an elevator cab
that begins to accelerate upward. (a) Do the magnitudes of 𝐹Ԧ𝑇𝐶 and 𝐹Ԧ𝐶𝑇
increase, decrease, or stay the same? (b) Are those two forces still equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction? (c) Do the magnitudes of 𝐹Ԧ𝐶𝐸 and
𝐹Ԧ𝐸𝐶 increase, decrease, or stay the same? (d) Are those two forces still
equal in magnitude and opposite in direction?

(a) Increases

(b) Yes
(c) Stay the same
(d) Yes

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• Newton's 2nd Law:

o Explains what happens as a result: The net force determines the acceleration
of a single object.

o Key Point: The force (from the interaction) causes the motion.

• Newton's 3rd Law:

o States that forces never exist in isolation: They always arise as a symmetric
pair between two interacting objects..

o Key Point: No interaction → No force.

An interaction is a process by which two or more entities exert mutual influence on

each other, typically involving an exchange of energy, momentum, or information.

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5-3 Applying Newton’s Laws
Applying Newton’s Laws: A 5-Step Guide

1. Identify the object(s) of interest.

2. Draw a Free-Body Diagram (FBD) showing all
external forces.
3. Establish a coordinate system (e.g., define the
upward direction as positive).
4. Apply Newton's Second Law for each axis.
5. Solve the resulting equations for the unknowns.

Free-body diagram (FBD):

• Only the object of interest is shown, represented as a dot
• Forces are drawn as vector arrows with their tails on the body
• Coordinate system is usually included as needed (not a strict part of the FBD).
• Acceleration may be shown as a separate, labeled vector arrow (optional)

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Sample Problem 2
Figure shows a block S (the sliding block) with mass
𝑀 = 3.3 kg. The block is free to move along a
horizontal frictionless surface and connected, by a
cord that wraps over a frictionless pulley, to a second
block H (the hanging block), with mass m = 2.1 kg.
The cord and pulley have negligible masses compared
to the blocks (they are “massless”). The hanging
block H falls as the sliding block S accelerates to the
right. Find (a) the acceleration of block S, (b) the
acceleration of block H, and (c) the tension in the
cord.

(a) and (b): We simply treat the whole things (Two masses and the rope) as
one object and apply Newton’s second law (They move together):
𝑚
𝑚g = (𝑀 + 𝑚)𝑎 → 𝑎= g = 3.8 m/s2
𝑀+𝑚

(c) Only look at the sliding block. Apply Newton’s second law:
𝑀𝑚
𝑇 = 𝑀𝑎 = g = 13𝑁
𝑀+𝑚
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Sample Problem 3
In the figure, a cord pulls on a box of sea biscuits up
along a frictionless plane inclined at θ = 30°. The
box has mass m = 5.00 kg, and the force from the
cord has magnitude T = 25.0 N. What is the box’s
acceleration component 𝑎 along the inclined plane?

It is much more convenient to introduce a coordinate system as

shown in Figure (b).

In addition to 𝐹Ԧg and 𝑇, there will be a normal force 𝐹Ԧ𝑁 to keep

the box from moving in the 𝑦 direction.

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Sample Problem 3
In the figure, a cord pulls on a box of sea biscuits up
along a frictionless plane inclined at θ = 30°. The
box has mass m = 5.00 kg, and the force from the
cord has magnitude T = 25.0 N. What is the box’s
acceleration component 𝑎 along the inclined plane?

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Sample Problem 3
In the figure, a cord pulls on a box of sea biscuits up
along a frictionless plane inclined at θ = 30°. The
box has mass m = 5.00 kg, and the force from the
cord has magnitude T = 25.0 N. What is the box’s
acceleration component 𝑎 along the inclined plane?

Using Newton’s second law in the 𝑥 direction,

𝐹𝑥 = 𝑇 − 𝑚g sin 𝜃 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎

𝑇
𝑎= − g sin 𝜃 = 0.100 m/s2
𝑚

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