Chapter 6

Force and Motion-II

In this chapter, we will explore the following concepts

- Frictional force between two objects

- Drag Force and Terminal Speed
- Uniform circular motion

General Physics 𝐈
6-1 Friction

Frictional forces are very common in our

everyday lives.

Examples:
1. If you send a book sliding down a horizontal surface, the book will
finally slow down and stop.
2. If you push a heavy crate and the crate does not move, then the applied
force must be counteracted by frictional forces.

General Physics 𝐈
6-1 Friction

Direction of
𝐹Ԧ
attempted
slide 𝑓Ԧ

• Friction is a force that opposes the relative motion of two contacting surfaces.

• Static friction 𝑓Ԧ𝑠 occurs when the contacting surfaces are not in relative motion.
The applied force and static frictional force balance along the direction parallel to
the surface: equal in magnitude, opposite in direction

There is no attempt at sliding. Force 𝐹Ԧ is now stronger but is still

Thus, no friction and no motion. balanced by the frictional force.
NO FRICTION No relative motion.
LARGER STATIC FRICTION
General Physics 𝐈
6-1 Friction
• Static friction can increase as needed to prevent the relative motion between
contacting surfaces—until it reaches a maximum value given by 𝑓𝑠,max = 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁 ,
where 𝜇𝑠 is the coefficient of static friction, and 𝐹𝑁 is the magnitude of the
normal force.
𝐹Ԧ𝑁
0 < 𝑓𝑠 ≤ 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁
Direction of
𝐹Ԧ
attempted
slide 𝑓Ԧ

𝑚g

Force 𝐹Ԧ attempts sliding but is balanced

Force 𝐹Ԧ is now even stronger but is still
by the frictional force.
balanced by the frictional force.
No relative motion.
No relative motion.
STATIC FRICTION
EVEN LARGER STATIC FRICTION
General Physics 𝐈
6-1 Friction
• As you push harder, you eventually overcome the static friction and the box
begins to move. (e)

Finally, the applied force has overwhelmed the

static frictional force.
Block begins to move and accelerates.
WEAK KINETIC FRICTION

• Kinetic friction 𝑓Ԧ𝑘 occurs once static friction has been overcome and the
contacting surfaces are in relative motion. (f) Its magnitude is 𝑓𝑘 = 𝜇𝑘 𝐹𝑁 ,
where 𝜇𝑘 coefficient of kinetic friction

To maintain the speed, weaken force 𝐹Ԧ to match

the weak frictional force 𝑓Ԧ𝑘 .
SAME WEAK KINETIC FRICTION

General Physics 𝐈
6-1 Friction

𝑓𝑠,max = 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁

For a constant speed

→ 𝐹 = 𝑓𝑘 = 𝜇𝑘 𝐹𝑁
At rest
𝐹 = 𝑓𝑠
(갑자기 떨어짐)

𝑓𝑠,max = 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁 > 𝜇𝑘 𝐹𝑁 ⟹ 𝜇𝑠 > 𝜇𝑘

Magnitude 𝐹𝑁 of the normal force measures how strongly the surfaces are pushed together

Both the static and kinetic coefficients of friction are unitless and must be determined
experimentally
General Physics 𝐈
What Causes Friction?
The actual contact area between two typical surfaces is
significantly smaller than the apparent contact area
(often by a factor of 104 ).
Because the surfaces are so smooth, many atoms of
one surface contact many atoms of the other surface,
and the surfaces cold-weld together instantly,
forming a single piece of metal

External force is required to break these bonds.

A higher normal force increases the number of cold-

weld points, requiring a greater force to overcome static
friction and initiate motion

Once motion begins, a continuous process of re-

welding and tearing occurs at the sliding interface.

General Physics 𝐈
Checkpoint 1
A block lies on a floor. (a) What is the magnitude of the frictional force on it from
the floor? (b) If a horizontal force of 5 N is now applied to the block, but the block
does not move, what is the magnitude of the frictional force on it? (c) If the
maximum value of the static frictional force on the block is 10 N, will the block
move if the magnitude of the horizontally applied force is 8 N? (d) If it is 12 N? (e)
What is the magnitude of the frictional force in part (c)?

(a) 0
(b) 5 N
(c) No
(d) Yes
(e) 8N

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 1 If a car’s wheels are “locked” (kept from
rolling) during emergency braking, the car
slides along the road. Ripped-off bits of
tire and small melted sections of road
form the “skid marks” that reveal that
cold-welding occurred during the slide.
The record for the longest skid marks on a
public road was reportedly set in 1960 by
a Jaguar on the M1 highway in England.
The marks were 290 m long! Assuming
that 𝜇𝑘 =0.60 and the car’s acceleration
was constant during the braking, how fast
was the car going when the wheels
became locked?

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 1 If a car’s wheels are “locked” (kept from
rolling) during emergency braking, the car
slides along the road. Ripped-off bits of
tire and small melted sections of road
form the “skid marks” that reveal that
cold-welding occurred during the slide.
The record for the longest skid marks on a
public road was reportedly set in 1960 by
a Jaguar on the M1 highway in England.
The marks were 290 m long! Assuming
that 𝜇𝑘 =0.60 and the car’s acceleration
was constant during the braking, how fast
was the car going when the wheels
became locked?
The frictional force acting on the car is 𝑓 = 𝜇𝑘 𝐹𝑁 = 𝜇𝑘 𝑚g
From Newton’s second law, 𝑚𝑎 = −𝜇𝑘 𝑚g → 𝑎 = −𝜇𝑘 g
Then, 02 − 𝑣02 = 2𝑎𝑆 = −2𝜇𝑘 g𝑆 = −2 × 0.6 × 9.8 × 290 = −3410.4
𝑣 = 58 mΤs = 210 kmΤh
General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 2 In the figure, a block of mass m = 3.0 kg slides
along a floor while a force 𝐹Ԧ of magnitude
12.0 N is applied to it at an upward angle q.
The coefficient of kinetic friction between the
block and the floor is 𝜇𝑘 =0.40. We can vary q
from 0 to 90° (the block remains on the floor).
What gives the maximum value of the block’s
acceleration magnitude 𝑎? Ԧ

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 2 In the figure, a block of mass m = 3.0 kg slides
along a floor while a force 𝐹Ԧ of magnitude 12.0 N is
applied to it at an upward angle q. The coefficient of
kinetic friction between the block and the floor is
𝜇𝑘 =0.40. We can vary q from 0 to 90° (the block
remains on the floor). What gives the maximum
value of the block’s acceleration magnitude 𝑎?Ԧ

The normal force acting on the block is 𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚g − 𝐹 sin 𝜃

The kinetic friction force is 𝑓𝑘 = 𝑚g − 𝐹 sin 𝜃 𝜇𝑘

The net force acting on the block is

𝐹 cos 𝜃 − 𝑚g − 𝐹 sin 𝜃 𝜇𝑘 = 𝑚𝑎 Newton’s 2nd law

𝜕 𝐹 𝐹
The maximum is at cos 𝜃 − g − sin 𝜃 𝜇𝑘 = 0
𝜕𝜃 𝑚 𝑚 𝜃 = 0.38 rad or 𝜃 = 22°
→ − sin 𝜃 + 𝜇𝑘 cos 𝜃 = 0 → 𝜇𝑘 = tan 𝜃

In principle, you have to make sure 1) it is indeed a maximum, 2) the answer is reasonable
(for example, make sure the normal force is non-negative)

General Physics 𝐈
6-2 Drag Force and Terminal Speed
• A fluid is anything that can flow (gas or liquid)
• When there is relative velocity between fluid and an solid object there is a drag force:
– That opposes the relative motion
– And points along the direction of the flow, relative to the body
• For cases in which air is the fluid, the body is blunt, and the relative motion is fast enough
so that the air becomes turbulent (breaks up into swirls) behind the body, a drag force is
1
𝐷 = 𝐶𝜌𝐴𝑣 2
2

𝐶: drag coefficient,
𝜌 : the density of the fluid,
direction 𝑣 : relative speed between a fluid and a body,
of the air
𝑣 = 𝑣Ԧbody − 𝑣Ԧfluid
𝐴: the effective cross-sectional area of the body
(the area taken perpendicular to the relative velocity)

General Physics 𝐈
6-2 Drag Force and Terminal Speed
• Physics of Terminal Speed
• Initial State: At 𝑡 = 0, 𝑣 = 0 and 𝐷 = 0.
• Equilibrium Condition: As speed increases, 𝐷 grows until 𝐷 = 𝑚g.
• Zero Acceleration: When 𝐷 = 𝑚g, the net force becomes zero, leading to 𝑎 = 0.
• Terminal Speed: The object maintains a constant speed 𝑣𝑡 thereafter.

1 2𝐹g
𝐷 = 𝐶𝜌𝐴𝑣𝑡2 = 𝐹g 𝑣𝑡 =
𝐷 = 0, 2 𝐶𝜌𝐴
𝑣=0

𝐷 − 𝐹g = 𝑚𝑎, 𝐹g = 𝑚g

General Physics 𝐈
Some terminal speeds in air

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 3
A raindrop with radius 𝑅=1.5 mm falls from a cloud that is at height ℎ=1200 m above the ground.
The drag coefficient 𝐶 for the drop is 0.60. Assume that the drop is spherical throughout its fall.
The density of water 𝜌𝑤 is 1000 kg/m3, and the density of air 𝜌𝑎 is 1.2 kg/m3.
(a) What is the terminal speed of the drop?
(b) What would be the drop’s speed just before impact if there were no drag force?

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 3
A raindrop with radius 𝑅=1.5 mm falls from a cloud that is at height ℎ=1200 m above the ground.
The drag coefficient 𝐶 for the drop is 0.60. Assume that the drop is spherical throughout its fall.
The density of water 𝜌𝑤 is 1000 kg/m3, and the density of air 𝜌𝑎 is 1.2 kg/m3.
(a) What is the terminal speed of the drop?
(b) What would be the drop’s speed just before impact if there were no drag force?

(a) Spherical raindrop feels gravitational force 𝐹g = 𝑚g:

4 3
𝐹g = 𝑚g = 𝑉𝜌𝑤 g = 𝜋𝑅 𝜌𝑤 g
3
Using 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑅2 for the cross-sectional area,

2𝑚g 8𝜋𝑅3 𝜌𝑤 g 8𝑅𝜌𝑤 g

𝑣𝑡 = = = = 7.4 mΤs ≈ 27 kmΤh
𝐶𝜌𝑎 𝐴 3𝐶𝜌𝑎 𝜋𝑅2 3𝐶𝜌𝑎 𝑅

(b) No drag force → the drop fall with constant free-fall acceleration g:
2
𝑣𝑦2 − 𝑣0𝑦 = −2g(𝑦 − 𝑦0 )
𝑣0𝑦 = 0, 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = −ℎ → 𝑣𝑦 = 2gℎ = 153 mΤs ≈ 550 kmΤh

General Physics 𝐈
6-3 Uniform Circular Motion
Centripetal force
Recall that circular motion requires a centripetal acceleration.

The acceleration always points towards the

center of rotation 𝐶 (thus the name centripetal)

𝐶 𝑣2
Its magnitude is constant 𝑎=
𝑟

Centripetal force is not a new kind of force. From

Newton’s second law, the magnitude is simply given by
𝑚𝑣 2
𝐹=
𝑟
A centripetal force accelerates a body by changing the direction of the body's
velocity without changing the body's speed.

General Physics 𝐈
Example: A hockey puck moves around a circle at constant speed v on a horizontal
ice surface. The puck is tied to a string looped around a peg at point 𝐶. In this case
the net force along the radial axis is the tension 𝑇 of the string.
Tension 𝑇 is the centripetal force.

𝑣2
centripetal acceleration: 𝑎𝑟 = −
𝑅
𝑣2 𝑚𝑣 2
Thus, 𝐹net,𝑟 = 𝑚 − 𝑅 = −𝑇 → 𝑇 = 𝑅 ,

• The force and acceleration vectors are

sometimes drawn along a radial axis 𝑟 that
moves with the body and always extends
from the center of the circle to the body
C
• The positive direction of the axis is radially
outward, but the acceleration and force
vectors point radially inward.

General Physics 𝐈
 +𝑟

radially outward → positive direction

radially inward → negative direction
C

+𝑟

1. Draw the free-body diagram for the object.

2. Establish a coordinate system, choosing the radially outward direction as positive.
3. Determine 𝐹net,𝑟

𝑚𝑣 2
4. Set 𝐹net,𝑟 = − 𝑟

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 4
In a 1901 circus performance, Allo “Dare Devil”
Diavolo introduced the stunt of riding a bicycle in a
loop-the-loop. Assuming that the loop is a circle with
radius R=2.7 m, what is the least speed 𝑣 Diavolo could
have at the top of the loop to remain in contact with it
there?

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 4
In a 1901 circus performance, Allo “Dare Devil”
Diavolo introduced the stunt of riding a bicycle in a
loop-the-loop. Assuming that the loop is a circle with
radius R=2.7 m, what is the least speed 𝑣 Diavolo could
have at the top of the loop to remain in contact with it
there?

We draw a free body diagram for Diavolo when he is

at the top of the loop.
Two forces are acting along the y-axis: Gravitational
force 𝐹g and the normal reaction FN from the loop.
When Diavolo has the minimum speed v he has just
lost contact with the loop and thus 𝐹𝑁 = 0.
The only force acting on Diavolo is 𝐹g . Hence, 𝐹g is
C the centripetal force.
Thus:
𝑣2
𝐹net,𝑦 = −𝑚g = −𝑚 → 𝑣min = g𝑅 = 5.1 m/s
𝑅

𝑣2 𝑚𝑣 2
𝐹net,𝑦 = −𝑚g − 𝐹𝑁 = −𝑚 → 𝑚g ≤
𝑅 𝑅
General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 5
The Rotor is a large hollow cylinder of radius 𝑅 =2.1 m that is rotated
rapidly around its central axis with a speed 𝑣. A rider of mass 𝑚 stands on
the Rotor floor with his/her back against the Rotor wall. Cylinder and rider
begin to turn. When the speed 𝑣 reaches some predetermined value, the
Rotor floor abruptly falls away. The rider does not fall but instead remains
pinned against the Rotor wall. The coefficient of static friction 𝜇𝑠 = 0.40
between the Rotor wall and the rider is given.
(a) What minimum speed 𝑣 must the cylinder and rider have if the rider is
not to fall when the floor drops?
(b) If the rider’s mass is 49 kg, what is the magnitude of the centripetal
force on her?

General Physics 𝐈
Sample Problem 5
The Rotor is a large hollow cylinder of radius 𝑅 =2.1 m that is rotated
rapidly around its central axis with a speed 𝑣. A rider of mass 𝑚 stands on
y 𝒓
the Rotor floor with his/her back against the Rotor wall. Cylinder and rider
begin to turn. When the speed 𝑣 reaches some predetermined value, the
Rotor floor abruptly falls away. The rider does not fall but instead remains
pinned against the Rotor wall. The coefficient of static friction 𝜇𝑠 = 0.40
between the Rotor wall and the rider is given.
C
(a) What minimum speed 𝑣 must the cylinder and rider have if the rider is
not to fall when the floor drops?
(b) If the rider’s mass is 49 kg, what is the magnitude of the centripetal
force on her?

(a) We draw a free body diagram for the rider using the axes shown in the figure. The normal force 𝐹𝑁
is the centripetal force.
𝑚𝑣 2 𝑚𝑣 2
radial component: 𝐹net,𝑟 = −𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚𝑎𝑟 = − → 𝐹𝑁 =
𝑅 𝑅
𝑚𝑣 2
vertical component: 𝐹net,𝑦 = 𝑓𝑠 − 𝑚g = 0 → 𝑚g = 𝑓𝑠 ≤ 𝑓𝑠,max = 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁 → 𝑚g ≤ 𝜇𝑠
𝑅

𝑅g 𝑅g 𝑚𝑣 2
→ 𝑣2 ≥ ∴ 𝑣min = = 7.2 mΤs (b) 𝐹𝑁 = = 1200 N
𝜇𝑠 𝜇𝑠 𝑅
General Physics 𝐈
 Sample Problem 6
Upside-down racing: A modern race car is designed so that the passing air pushes down on it, allowing the
car to travel much faster through a flat turn in a Grand Prix without friction failing. This downward push is
called negative lift. Can a race car have so much negative lift that it could be driven upside down on a long
ceiling, as done fictionally by a sedan in the first Men in Black movie?

Figure (a) represents a Grand Prix race car of mass m = 600 kg as it travels on a flat track in a circular arc
of radius 𝑅 = 100 m. Because of the shape of the car and the wings on it, the passing air exerts a negative
lift 𝐹Ԧ𝐿 downward on the car. The coefficient of static friction between the tires and the track is 0.75.
(Assume that the forces on the four tires are identical.)

If the car is on the verge of sliding out of the turn when its speed is 28.6 m/s, what is the magnitude of 𝐹Ԧ𝐿 ?

General Physics 𝐈
 radial axis 𝑟

C
C

If we draw the free body diagram for the car we see that the net force along the radial axis 𝑟
is the static friction 𝑓𝑠 . The frictional force 𝑓𝑠 is the centripetal force. Thus:

𝑣2
𝐹net,𝑟 = 𝑚𝑎𝑟 = 𝑚 − = −𝑓𝑠
𝑅
𝑣2
On the verge of sliding, 𝑓𝑠 = 𝑓𝑠,max = 𝜇𝑆 𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚
𝑅
Newton’s second law for components along the y-axis, 𝐹net,𝑦 = 𝐹𝑁 − 𝑚g − 𝐹𝐿 = 0

𝑚𝑣 2
Hence, 𝐹𝐿 = 𝐹𝑁 − 𝑚g = − 𝑚g = 660 N
𝜇𝑠 𝑅
General Physics 𝐈