Forces

Introduction

What is a Force?

Force is pushing or pulling any object resulting from the object’s interaction with another object.
Without force, nothing can be moved, stopped or change the direction. The push or pull on an
object with mass causes it to change its velocity. Force is an external agent capable of changing a
body’s state of rest or motion. It has a magnitude and a direction. The direction towards which
the force is applied is known as the direction of the force, and the application of force is the point
where force is applied. The objects are either static or in motion state. Its position will only be
changed if it is pushed or pulled. The external push or pull applied on the object changes its current
state of motion, which is known as Force. This force can be of different types.

Types of Forces

Force is a physical action that can change the state of motion of any object or the dimensions.

1. Contact forces
The contact forces are the forces which occurs when we apply some effort on an object.
Such as
i. Spring Force
This force works opposite to the displacement of molecules. Like in a spring or
elastic rubber band etc.

ii. Applied Force

The force which is applied by our muscles is called applied force is also called
muscular force. For example, pushing a box or kicking a ball etc.

iii. Air Resistance Force

The force exerted by a gas acting upon a body on the opposite direction is called
air resistance force. The examples are the forces experienced by a skydiver or a
downhill skier etc.
iv. Normal Force
It is referred to the force which acts when two surfaces are in contact. This force
is perpendicular to the surface and acts in the direction out of the surface. For
example, a box on top of a table.
 v. Tension Force
This type of force is experienced by a rope or a string which holds an object. The
tension force is always a pull not a push. The tension force is same throughout
the cable. For example, a ball hanging with the help of a string.

vi. Frictional Force

Frictional force acts when the objects on a surface is trying to move relative to
surface. For example, when a box is slid on a table.

2. Non-Contact forces
The non-contact forces are the forces which occurs from a distance. Following is the
classification of non-contact forces:
i. Electromagnetic Force
These are the magnetic and electric interactions between atoms and molecules
which helps in binding and defining the structure of solids. For example, in a
magnet, poles attract each other.

ii. Gravitational Force

The gravitational force is defined as the force acting between objects due to
presence of matter. For example, Earth’s gravity acting upon objects and is given
as:

iii. Nuclear Force

The force responsible for the bonding of nucleus is known as nuclear force. For
example, forces resulting in radioactive decay.
Newton’s First Law

With Newton’s Laws we begin the study of how motion occurs in the real world. The study of the
causes of motion is called dynamics, or mechanics. The relation between force and acceleration
was given by Isaac Newton in his three laws of motion, which form the basis of elementary physics.
Though Newton’s formulation of physics had to be replaced later on to deal with motion at
speeds comparable to the speed light and for motion on the scale of atoms, it is applicable to
everyday situations and is still the best introduction to the fundamental laws of nature. The
study of Newton’s laws and their implications is often called Newtonian or classical mechanics.

Particles accelerate because they are being acted on by forces. In the absence of forces, a
particle will not accelerate, that is, it will move at constant velocity.

Newton’s First Law is:

An object at rest it will remain at rest, and if it is moving with constant velocity it will continue to
move at that velocity, until an external force acts on it.

An object moves with a velocity that is constant in magnitude and direction unless a non-zero net
force acts on it.

The net force on an object is defined as the vector sum of all external forces exerted on the
object. External forces come from the object’s environment. If an object’s velocity isn’t changing
in either magnitude or direction, then its acceleration and the net force acting on it must both
be zero.

Newton’s Second Law

Experiments show that objects have a property called mass which measures how their motion is
influenced by forces. Mass is measured in kilograms in the SI system.

Newton’s Second Law is a relation between the net force (𝐹) acting on a mass 𝑚 and its
acceleration 𝑎. It says:

Σ𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
Mathematical statements of Newton’s second law, the net force on an object is the vector sum of
all forces acting on the object. The force acting on an object is referred to the net force as the total
force, the resultant force, or the unbalanced force. In solving a problem using Newton’s second
law, it is imperative to determine the correct net force on an object. Many forces may be acting
on an object, but there is only one acceleration.
Equation Σ𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 is a vector expression and hence is equivalent to three component
equations:

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 Σ𝐹𝑧 = 𝑚𝑎𝑧

The units of force must be 𝑘𝑔𝑚/𝑠 2 , which is abbreviated 1 newton (𝑁), to honor Isaac Newton
(1642–1727), famous physicist and smart person. Thus:

1 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛 = 1 𝑁 = 1 𝑘𝑔 · 𝑚
Two other units of force which we encounter sometimes are:

1 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒 = 1 𝑔 · 𝑐𝑚 = 10−5 𝑁 and 1 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 = 1 𝑙𝑏 = 4.45 𝑁

Example

A hockey puck having a mass of 0.30 𝑘𝑔 slides on the frictionless, horizontal surface of an ice
rink. Two hockey sticks strike the puck simultaneously, exerting the forces on the puck shown in
the figure below. The force 𝐹⃗1 has a magnitude of 5.0 𝑁, and is directed at 𝜃 = 20° below
the 𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. The force 𝐹⃗2 has a magnitude of 8.0 𝑁 and its direction is f 𝜃 = 60° above
the 𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. Determine both the magnitude and the direction of the puck’s acceleration.

Solution

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹𝑥1 + 𝐹𝑥2 = 𝐹1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹𝑦1 + 𝐹𝑦2 = 𝐹1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Σ𝐹𝑥 𝐹1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑎𝑥 = =
𝑚 𝑚
Σ𝐹𝑦 𝐹1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝐹2 𝑠𝑛𝜃
𝑎𝑦 = =
𝑚 𝑚
5𝑁 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(−20) + 8𝑁𝑐𝑜𝑠(60)
𝑎𝑥 = = 29𝑚/𝑠 2
0.3𝑘𝑔
5𝑁 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛(−20) + 8𝑁𝑠𝑖𝑛(60)
𝑎𝑥 = = 17𝑚/𝑠 2
0.3𝑘𝑔
Magnitude

𝑎 = √(29𝑚/𝑠 2 )2 + (17𝑚/𝑠 2 )2 = 34𝑚/𝑠 2

Direction

17𝑚/𝑠 2
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 31°
29𝑚/𝑠 2

The Gravitational Force and Weight

All objects are attracted to the Earth. The attractive force exerted by the Earth on an object is
called the gravitational force⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐹𝑔 . This force is directed toward the center of the Earth, and its
magnitude is called the weight of the object. We saw in that a freely falling object experiences
an acceleration 𝑔 acting toward the center of the Earth. Applying Newton’s second law g Σ𝐹 =
𝑚𝑎⃗ a freely falling object of mass 𝑚, with 𝑎⃗ = 𝑔⃗ and Σ𝐹⃗ = 𝐹⃗𝑔 , gives

Σ𝐹⃗ = 𝑚𝑔⃗

Therefore, the weight of an object, being defined as the magnitude of⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝐹𝑔 , is given by

𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔

Newton’s Third Law

States that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction. If an object
A exert a force on object B, Object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on the object.

This law is popularly stated as the “law of action and reaction”, but in fact it deals with the forces
between two objects.

If two objects interact, the force 𝐹⃗12 exerted by object 1 on object 2 is equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction to the force 𝐹⃗21 exerted by object 2 on object 1:

𝐹⃗12 = −𝐹⃗21

Application of Newton’s Laws

This focus on two analysis models for solving problems in which objects are either in equilibrium
𝑎⃗ = 0 or accelerating along a straight line under the action of constant external forces. Remember
that when Newton’s laws are applied to an object, we are interested only in external forces that
act on the object.

The Particle in Equilibrium

If the acceleration of an object modeled as a particle is zero, the object is treated with the
particle in equilibrium model. In this model, the net force on the object is zero:

Σ𝐹⃗ = 0
Consider a lamp suspended from a light chain fastened to the ceiling as in Figure below. The
free-body diagram for the lamp (in the figure below) shows that the forces acting on the lamp
are the downward gravitational 𝐹⃗𝑔 force and the upward force 𝑇 exerted by the chain. Because
there are no forces in the 𝑥 direction, Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0 provides no helpful information. The condition
Σ𝐹𝑦 = 0 gives us:

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑇 − 𝐹⃗𝑔 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑇 = 𝐹⃗𝑔

Worked examples

A 3.0 kg mass undergoes an acceleration given by = (2.0𝑖 + 5.0𝑗)𝑚/𝑠 2 . Find the resultant
force 𝐹 and its magnitude.

Σ𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎
= (3𝑘𝑔) (2.0𝑖 + 5.0𝑗)𝑚/𝑠 2

= (6.0𝑖 + 15.0𝑗)𝑚/𝑠 2 𝑁
The magnitude of the resultant force is

Σ𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = √(6.0𝑁)2 + (15.0𝑁)2 = 15 𝑁

A 4.0 kg object has a velocity of 3.0𝑖 𝑚/s at one instant. Eight seconds later, its velocity is
(8.0𝑖 + 10.0𝑗) 𝑚/s. Assuming the object was subject to a constant net force, find (a) the
components of the force and (b) its magnitude and direction.
Δ𝑣 8.0𝑚/𝑠 + 3.0𝑚/𝑠
𝑎𝑥 = = = 0.63𝑚/𝑠 2
Δ𝑡 8.0𝑠
 Δ𝑣 10.0𝑚/𝑠 + 0.0𝑚/𝑠
𝑎𝑦 = = = 1.3𝑚/𝑠 2
Δ𝑡 8.0𝑠
We have the mass of the object, so from Newton’s Second Law we get the components of the
force:

𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎 = 4.0𝑘𝑔 × 0.63𝑚/𝑠 2 = 2.5𝑁

𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎 = 4.0𝑘𝑔 × 0.63𝑚/𝑠 2 = 5.0𝑁

(b) The magnitude of the (net) force is

2
𝐹 = √(𝐹𝑥 )2 + (𝐹𝑦 ) = √(2.5)2 + (5.0)2 = 5.6𝑁

And its direction θ is given by

𝐹𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝐹𝑥
5.0𝑁
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 63°
2.5𝑁
Example

Five forces pull on the 4.0 kg box in the figure below. Find the box’s acceleration (a) in unit
vector notation and (b) as a magnitude and direction.

Solution

Force components

Σ𝐹𝑥 = −11𝑁 + 14𝑐𝑜𝑠30° + 3𝑁 = 4.1𝑁

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 5𝑁 + 14𝑠𝑖𝑛30° − 17𝑁 = −5.0𝑁

Vector we have notation

Σ𝐹 = (4.1𝑁)𝑖 − (5.0)𝑁
Acceleration of x and y components
Σ𝐹𝑥 4.1𝑁
𝑎𝑥 = = = 1.0𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑚 4.0𝑘𝑔
Σ𝐹𝑦 −5.0𝑁𝑁
𝑎𝑦 = = = −1.2𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑚 4.0𝑘𝑔
So in unit–vector form, the acceleration of the box is

𝑎 = (1.0𝑚/𝑠 2 )𝑖 − (1.2𝑚/𝑠 2 )𝑗
Magnitude

𝑎 = √𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑎𝑦2 = √(1.0𝑚/𝑠 2 )2 + (−1.2𝑚/𝑠 2 )2 = 1.6𝑚/𝑠 2

Direction
𝑎𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑎𝑥
−1.2
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (−1.2) = −50°
1.0
If a man weighs 875 𝑁 on Earth, what would he weigh on Jupiter, where the free fall
acceleration is 25.9𝑚/𝑠 2

Mass on earth

𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑊 875𝑁
𝑚= = = 89.3𝑘𝑔
𝑔 25.9𝑚/𝑠 2
Weight on Jupiter

𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔𝑗𝑢𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑊 = 89.3𝑘𝑔 × 25.0𝑚/𝑠 2

= 𝟐. 𝟑𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝑵
Example

A traffic light weighing 122 N hangs from a cable tied to two other cables fastened to a support as
in Figure below. The upper cables make angles of 37.0° and 53.0° with the horizontal. These
upper cables are not as strong as the vertical cable and will break if the tension in them
exceeds100 𝑁. Does the traffic light remain hanging in this situation, or will one of the cables
break?
 ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 → 𝑇3 − 𝐹𝑔 = 0

𝑇3 = 𝐹𝑔 = 122𝑁

Components of force

Σ𝐹𝑥 = −𝑇1 𝑐𝑜𝑠37° + 𝑇2 𝑐𝑜𝑠53° = 0

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑇1 𝑠𝑖𝑛37° + 𝑇2 𝑠𝑖𝑛53° − 122𝑁 = 0

Solving for 𝑇2
𝑇2 𝑐𝑜𝑠53° 𝑇1 𝑐𝑜𝑠37°
=
𝑐𝑜𝑠53° 𝑐𝑜𝑠53°
𝑇1 𝑐𝑜𝑠37°
𝑇2 = = 1.33𝑇1
𝑐𝑜𝑠53°
Substitute this value for 𝑇2 into Equation

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑇1 𝑠𝑖𝑛37° + 𝑇2 𝑠𝑖𝑛53° − 122𝑁 = 0

𝑇1 𝑠𝑖𝑛37° + (1.33𝑇1 )𝑠𝑖𝑛53° − 122𝑁 = 0

𝑇1 = 73.4𝑁
𝑇2 = 1.33𝑇1 = 1.33 × 73.4𝑁 = 97.4𝑁
10. A block of mass m = 2.0 kg is held in equilibrium on an incline of angle 𝜃 = 60° by the
horizontal force 𝐹, as shown in Figure below.

a. Determine the value of 𝐹, the magnitude of 𝐹.

b. Determine the normal force exerted by the incline on the block (ignore friction).
 a. Gravity pulls downward with a force mg. The applied force, of magnitude 𝐹, is
horizontal. The surface exerts a normal force N on the block; using a little geometry, we
see that if the angle of the incline is 60° , then the normal force is directed at 30° above
the horizontal
Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑁𝑠𝑖𝑛30° − 𝑚𝑔 = 0
𝑚𝑔 2.0𝑘𝑔 × 9.8𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑁= = = 39.3𝑁
𝑠𝑖𝑛30° 0.5

The horizontal forces also sum to zero, giving:

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 − 𝑁𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = 0
𝐹 = 39.3 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = 33.9𝑁
The applied force 𝐹 𝑖𝑠 33.9 𝑁.

b. The magnitude of the normal force was found in part (a); there we found:
𝑁 = 39.2 𝑁 .
Example

A block of mass 𝑚1 = 3.70 𝑘𝑔 on a frictionless inclined plane of angle 𝜃 = 30.0° is connected

by a cord over a massless, frictionless pulley to a second block of mass 𝑚2 = 2.30 𝑘𝑔 hanging
vertically, as shown below.

a. What are the magnitude of the acceleration of each block and

b. The direction of the acceleration of 𝑚2
c. What is the tension in the cord?

Solution
 a. Magnitudes

𝑁 − 𝑚1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0 𝑁 = 𝑚1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
The sum of the 𝑥 forces gives 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥 , which will not be zero. We get

𝑇 − 𝑚1 𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥
The free–body diagram for mass 𝑚2 is shown below. The force of gravity, 𝑚2 𝑔 pulls downward
and the string tension 𝑇 pulls upward. Suppose we use a coordinate 𝑥 which points straight
down.

(This is a little unconventional, but you can see that there is a connection with the coordinate 𝑥
used for the motion of 𝑚1 . Coordinate 𝑥′ points downward. Then the sum of forces in the
direction gives 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥′.

𝑚𝑔 − 𝑇 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥′ .

Now as we argued above, the accelerations are equal: 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 ′ . . This gives us

𝑚𝑔 − 𝑇 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥
At this point, the physics is done and the rest of the problem is doing the math (algebra) to solve
for 𝑎𝑥 and 𝑇

𝑇 − 𝑚1 𝑔𝑠𝑛𝜃 + 𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝑇 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥
(𝑚2 − 𝑚1 𝑠𝑖𝑛30°)𝑔 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )𝑎𝑥
(𝑚2 − 𝑚1 𝑠𝑖𝑛30°)𝑔 (2.3𝑘𝑔 − 3.7𝑘𝑔)(9.8𝑚/𝑠 2 )
𝑎𝑥 = =
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 3.7𝑘𝑔 + 2.3𝑘𝑔

= 0.735𝑚/𝑠 2
b. Mass 𝑚1 accelerates up the slope; mass 𝑚2 accelerates vertically downward.
𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝑇 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥
𝑇 = 𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚2 (𝑔 − 𝑎𝑥 )
𝑇 = 2.3𝑘𝑔(9.8𝑚/𝑠 2 − 0.735𝑚/𝑠 2 ) = 20.8𝑁

Example
The block of mass m1 and m2 with m1 > m2, are placed in contact with each other on a
frictionless, horizontal surface as in the figure below.

Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the system.

How to solve

Applying second law

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 = (𝑚1 + 𝑚2 ) 𝑎𝑥
𝐹
𝑎𝑥 =
𝑚1 + 𝑚2
Determine the magnitude of the contact force between the two blocks. P is used to denote the
contact force the horizontal force acting in m2 is the contact force 𝑃⃗⃗12

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝑃12 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥
𝐹
𝑃12 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚2 ( )
𝑚1 + 𝑚2
𝑚2
=( )𝐹
𝑚1 + 𝑚2

According to the third law 𝑃⃗⃗21 is the reaction force to⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑃12, so 𝑃⃗⃗21 = 𝑃⃗⃗12

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 − 𝑃21 = 𝐹 − 𝑃12 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥

𝐹 𝑚2
𝑃12 = 𝐹 − 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥 = 𝐹 − 𝑚1 ( )=( )𝐹
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑚1 + 𝑚2
Friction Force

An object moving on a surface or through a viscous medium such as air or water encounters
resistance as it interacts with its surroundings. This resistance is called friction. Force of friction
are essential in our everyday lives. Friction makes it possible to grip and hold things, drive a car,
walk and run.

The force that counteracts 𝐹⃗ applied and keep objects to move is called the force of static
friction𝑓⃗𝑠 .

The friction of an object in motion is called force of kinetic friction 𝑓⃗𝑘

The magnitude of the force of static friction between any two surfaces in contact can the value

𝑓𝑠 ≤ 𝜇𝑠 𝑛
Where dimension constant 𝜇𝑠 is called the coefficient of static friction and 𝑛 is the magnitude of
the normal force.

The magnitude of the force of kinetic friction acting between two surfaces is

𝑓𝑘 = 𝜇𝑘 𝑛
And 𝜇𝑘 is the coefficient of kinetic friction. The value of 𝜇𝑠 and 𝜇𝑘 depend on the nature of the
surface.
Example

The hockey puck in the figure below was struck by a hockey stick. It was given an initial speed of
20.0m/s on a frozen pond. The puck remains on the ice and slides 1.20 × 102m, slowing down
steadily until it comes to rest. Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the puck and
ice.

X component

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑓𝑘 = 0

𝑉𝑥2 = 𝑉𝑜𝑥
2
+ 2𝑎Δ𝑥
2𝑎Δ𝑥 𝑉𝑥2 − 𝑉𝑜𝑥
2
=
2Δ𝑥 2Δ𝑥
02 − (20.0𝑚/𝑠)2
𝑎𝑥 = = −1.67𝑚/𝑠 2
2(120𝑚)

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑛 − 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑛 − 𝑚𝑔 = 0

𝑛 = 𝑚𝑔
Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑓𝑘 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑛 = 0
𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑥
= 𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 = 0 → =
𝑚𝑔 𝑚𝑔
𝑎𝑥 −1.67𝑚/𝑠 2
𝜇𝑘 = =
𝑔 9.8𝑚/𝑠 2
= 0.170

Example

Suppose a block with a mass of 2.50kg is resting on a ramp. If the coefficient of static friction
between the block and ramp is 0.350, what maximum angle can the ramp make with the
horizontal before the block starts to slip down?
 Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑓⃗𝑠 = 0 ↔ 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝜇𝑠 𝑛 = 0
Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑛 − 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0

We get 𝑛 = 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Substituting the expression for n in first equation for x

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝜇𝑠 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝜇𝑠 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
=
𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝜇𝑠 =
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝜇𝑠
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.350
= 19.3°
Example

A block with mass 𝑚1 = 4.00𝑘𝑔 and a ball with mass 𝑚2 = 7.00𝑘𝑔 are connected by a light
string that passes over a frictionless pulley as shown in the figure below. The coefficient of
kinetic friction between the block and the surface is 0.300.

a. Find the acceleration of the he two objects by using the tension in the string.
b. Check the answer for acceleration by using the system approach

Solving

Find the acceleration

 Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝑇 − 𝑓𝑘 = 𝑚1 𝑎
Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑛 − 𝑚𝑔 = 0

𝑛 = 𝑚𝑔
Substitute n in the equation

𝑇 − 𝑓𝑘 = 𝑚1 𝑎 ↔ 𝑇 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑛 = 𝑚1 𝑎1
𝑇 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑚1 𝑎1 (𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏)
Second law of motion on the ball 𝑎2 = −𝑎1

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑇 − 𝑚2 𝑔 = 𝑚2 𝑎2 = −𝑚2 𝑎1

𝑇 − 𝑚2 𝑔 = −𝑚2 𝑎1 (𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟐)
Subtract equation 2 from equation 1

𝑇 − 𝑇 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔 + 𝑚2 𝑔 = 𝑚1 𝑎1 + 𝑚2 𝑎1
𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔 𝑎(𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )
=
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 𝑚1 + 𝑚2
𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔
𝑎=
𝑚1 + 𝑚2

(7.0𝑘𝑔)(9.8𝑚/𝑠 2 ) − 3. (4.0𝑘𝑔)(9.8𝑚/𝑠 2 )
𝑎= = 5.17𝑚/𝑠 2
4.0𝑘𝑔 + 7.0𝑘𝑔