PHYS 1401

General Physics I

Chapter 5
Further Applications of
Newton’s Laws:
Download the textbook for free at
[Link]
Friction, Drag, and Elasticity
college-physics Image credit: Mike Baird, Flickr
 Friction
When a body is in motion, it has resistance because the body interacts with its surroundings. This
resistance is a force of friction.
Friction opposes relative motion between systems in contact but also allows us to move, a concept
that becomes obvious if you try to walk on ice.
Static and Kinetic Friction
Friction is a force that opposes relative motion between systems in contact.
If two systems are in contact and stationary relative to one another, then the friction between them is called static friction.
If two systems are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction.

Friction arises in part because of the roughness of the

surfaces in contact, as seen in the expanded view.
Much of the friction is due to attractive forces between molecules making
up the two objects, so that even perfectly smooth surfaces are not
friction-free. In fact, perfectly smooth, clean surfaces of similar materials
would adhere, forming a bond called a “cold weld.”
 Friction
The knee joint is formed by the lower leg bone (the tibia) and the thighbone (the femur). The
hip is a ball (at the end of the femur) and socket (part of the pelvis) joint. The ends of the bones
in the joint are covered by cartilage, which provides a smooth, almost glassy surface. The joints
also produce a fluid (synovial fluid) that reduces friction and wear. A damaged or arthritic joint
can be replaced by an artificial joint. These replacements can be made of metals (stainless steel
or titanium) or plastic (polyethylene), also with very small coefficients of friction.
Artificial knee replacement is a procedure that has been performed for more than 20 years.
In this figure, we see the post-op X-rays of the right knee joint replacement.

credit: Mike Baird, Flickr

Example: 100 kg crate (w/w). The

normal force is equal to its weight.
 Friction

Assignment 1
A large metal dining table base of mass 45 kg rests on a horizontal wooden surface.
(a) What is the minimum horizontal force required to move the base?
(b) What is the base’s acceleration when this force is applied?

Image credit: r-homefurniture

 Friction and the Inclined Plane
Example

The normal force 𝑵 is perpendicular

to the slope, and friction 𝒇 is parallel
to the slope, but the skier’s weight
𝒘 has components along both axes,
namely 𝑤⊥ and 𝑤∥ . The normal force
𝑵 is equal in magnitude to 𝑤⊥ , so
there is no motion perpendicular to
the slope. However, 𝒇 is equal to 𝑤∥
in magnitude, so there is a constant
velocity (no acceleration) down the
slope (along the x-axis).

The motion of the skier and friction are parallel to the slope, so it is most convenient to project all forces onto a
coordinate system where one axis is parallel to the slope and the other is perpendicular (axes shown to left of skier).
Friction and the Inclined Plane
 Friction and the Inclined Plane

Assignment 2
You place your calculator on your textbook and lift the edge of the book such
that calculator slides down when the angle the textbook makes with table is
35º. What is the coefficient of friction between calculator’s material (plastic)
and your textbook’s material (paper)?
Image credit: [Link]
 Drag Force and Terminal Speed
Drag force acts on an object when it is moving in a fluid (either a gas or a liquid).
The drag force always opposes the motion of an object.

Generally
Exponent n is 2 if the object is
When taking into account other factors, this relationship becomes moving at high velocity through air.
At low speeds n is 1

where:
C is the drag
coefficient,

A is the area of
the object facing
the fluid,

From racing cars to bobsled racers, ρ is the density

aerodynamic shaping is crucial to of the fluid.
achieving top speeds. Bobsleds are
designed for speed and are shaped
like a bullet with tapered fins.
NASA researchers test a
(credit: “U.S. Army”/Wikimedia Commons) model plane in a wind tunnel.
(credit: NASA/Ames)
 Drag Force and Terminal Speed
Terminal Velocity
Image credit:
[Link]
Consider a skydiver falling through air under the influence of gravity. org/wiki/Parachuting

As the skydiver’s velocity increases, the magnitude of the drag force increases until the magnitude of the
drag force is equal to the gravitational force, thus producing a net force of zero.
A zero net force means that there is no acceleration. At this point, the person’s velocity remains constant
and we say that the person has reached his terminal velocity (v).

This means a skydiver with a mass of 75 kg achieves a terminal velocity

of about 350 km/h while traveling in a pike (head first) position,
minimizing the area and his drag. In a spread-eagle position, that
terminal velocity may decrease to about 200 km/h as the area
increases. This terminal velocity becomes much smaller after the
parachute opens.
 Drag Force and Terminal Speed
Terminal Velocity
Image credit:
[Link]
Consider a skydiver falling through air under the influence of gravity. org/wiki/Parachuting

As the skydiver’s velocity increases, the magnitude of the drag force increases until the magnitude of the
drag force is equal to the gravitational force, thus producing a net force of zero.
A zero net force means that there is no acceleration. At this point, the person’s velocity remains constant
and we say that the person has reached his terminal velocity (v).

This means a skydiver with a mass of 75 kg achieves a terminal velocity

of about 350 km/h while traveling in a pike (head first) position,
minimizing the area and his drag. In a spread-eagle position, that
terminal velocity may decrease to about 200 km/h as the area
increases. This terminal velocity becomes much smaller after the
parachute opens. Assignment 3
Find the terminal velocity of an 85-kg
skydiver falling in a spread-eagle position.
A=0.70 m2.
 Elasticity
A change in shape due to the application of a force is a deformation.
For small deformations
1. The object returns to its original shape when the force is removed—that is, the deformation is elastic
for small deformations.
2. The size of the deformation is proportional to the force—that is, for small deformations, Hooke’s law
is obeyed.
In equation form, Hooke’s law is given by

where ΔL is the amount of deformation (the change in length, for

example) produced by the force F , and k is a proportionality
constant that depends on the shape and composition of the
object and the direction of the force.

The deformation ΔL is

The same force, in this case a weight ( w ),

applied to three different guitar strings of
identical length produces the three different
deformations shown as shaded segments.
A graph of deformation ΔL versus applied force F
 Elasticity
A change in shape due to the application of a force is a deformation.
For small deformations
1. The object returns to its original shape when the force is removed—that is, the deformation is elastic
for small deformations.
2. The size of the deformation is proportional to the force—that is, for small deformations, Hooke’s law
is obeyed.
Changes in Length—Tension and Compression: Elastic Modulus

where ΔL is the change in length, F the applied force, Y is a factor, called the elastic modulus
or Young’s modulus, that depends on the substance, A is the cross-sectional area, and L0 is
the original length.

(a) Tension. The rod is stretched a length ΔL when a force is applied parallel to its length.
(b) Compression. The same rod is compressed by forces with the same magnitude in the opposite
direction. For very small deformations and uniform materials, ΔL is approximately the same for the
same magnitude of tension or compression. For larger deformations, the cross-sectional area
changes as the rod is compressed or stretched.
 Elasticity
Changes in Length—Tension and Compression: Elastic Modulus

(credit: Rudy Herman, Flickr)

 Elasticity
Changes in Length—Tension and Compression: Elastic Modulus

Assignment 4
By how much does a 65.0-kg mountain climber stretch her
0.800-cm diameter nylon rope when she hangs 35.0 m
below a rock outcropping?

(credit: [Link])