1 DYNAMICS ASN/zkp/08

Newton’s laws of motion The two properties of mass are equivalent.

Gravitational mass and inertial mass are equal to
Law 1 each other.
Every object continues in its state of rest or uniform
motion in a straight line unless a resultant force 4. Weight is the gravitational force acting on a
acts on it. mass due to the gravitational attraction of the earth,
or the pull of gravity on an object.
Law 2
The rate of change of momentum of an object is weight = gravitational force = m g.
directly proportional to the resultant force and
occurs in the direction of the force. 5. The acceleration due to gravity g is the same
for all objects, no matter what their masses.
Law 3 A 100 kg mass and a 10 kg mass would both reach
If an object A exerts a force on an object B, then B the ground at the same time if they were dropped
exerts an equal but opposite force on A. from the same point, if we ignore air resistance.

Newton’s First Law Newton’s Second Law

This law tells us what a force is. A resultant force 1. This law tells us how a force can be measured.
causes acceleration. No resultant force means no 2. Moving objects have momentum, defined as
acceleration, so the object is either
(a) at rest, or momentum p = mass m (kg) x velocity v (m s-1)
(b) moving with constant velocity.
When no resultant force acts on an object it is said
to be in translational equilibrium. Momentum p = mv is a vector quantity.

3. Resultant force α rate of change of momentum

R R R
FR α
P

F
W W FR α α α ma
Book on table Car at constant velocity
no acceleration, W = 2R and F = P
no resultant force, driving force = air resistance FR α m a FR = k m a
R–W=0 where k is the constant of proportionality.

Inertia, Mass and Weight k = 1 by the definition of the unit of the newton.
1. Law 1 expresses the idea of inertia, which is One newton is the force which gives a mass of 1 kg
the resistance of a body to a change of velocity. an acceleration of 1 m s-2.
2. Different masses have different accelerations
when a force acts on them. FR = m a

A resultant force of 500 N on a car of mass 1000 kg If the mass is constant, FR = m a.

produces an acceleration of
a = FR/m =500 N/1000 kg = 0.5 m s-2 4. For a changing mass, e.g. sand falling on a
The same force on a toy car of produces a large conveyor belt, or a hovering helicopter, or force of
acceleration. water flow,
This property of mass is called inertial mass. F = mass per second x velocity change
Inertial mass is the ratio of the resultant force to
acceleration:
m = FR/a See IOP expt to verify f = ma using a trolley,
light gates and different masses.
3. Gravitational mass determines how much
gravitational force an object experiences when near
another object. Accelerating Total time to travel L/s acceleration =
The gravitational force on an elephant from the force (N) mass 2 L/t2
earth is larger than that on a mouse. Different (kg)
1 2 3 mean (m s-2 )
masses have different gravitational forces acting on
them.
gravitational mass α gravitational force
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4. When applying FR = ma, Unbalanced force is 8 000 – T – 1 000
(i) Draw a free body force diagram to show all the From Law 2
forces that act on one body. 8 000 – T – 1 000 = 1 000 a (i)
(ii) Remember that the unbalanced force FR and For the trailer
the acceleration are in the same direction. T – 2 000 = 3 000 a (ii)
(iii) Use kg, N and m s-2 Eliminate T
a = 1.25 m s-2
Examples
1. Mass on level ground T can be found from (i) or (ii), T = 5750 N
Find the friction force F, if the forward force The forces in the tow bar are equal and opposite.
is 15 N. mass m = 3 kg a = 2 m s-2
a = 2 m s-2 4. Masses in contact
15 N Find (a) the acceleration of the blocks,
F 3 kg (b) the force exerted on B by A.

Unbalanced force is (15 – F) a

From Law 2 (15 – F) = m a = 3 x 2 B
F=9N A
Remember that FR and the acceleration are in the F m 3m smooth floor
same direction.

2. Mass on incline (a) From FR = m a a = F / 4m

P
(b) A exerts a force on B but B exerts an equal
and opposite force on A. Let the force = P

F P P B
A
30°
Consider B only, from FR = ma
W P = (3m) (F / 4m) P = 3F/4
Find the driving force P of the car of mass 1000 kg, Consider A F-P=ma
if the friction is 1000 N, when P = F - m a = F - m F/4m P = 3F/4
(a) the acceleration = 2 m s-2 up the plane,
(b) there is no acceleration.
5. Man in a lift
(a) W = mg = 1000 kg x 10 = 10 000 N The mass of the man = 80 kg. Find R the force on
mg sin 30 = 5 000 N a man by the floor, when the lift
FR = m a (a) at rest,
Unbalanced force is (P - 5 000 – 1 000) (b) is moving with constant velocity.
From Law 2 (c) has an upward acceleration of 4 m s-2 ,
(P - 5 000 – 1 000) = 1000 x 2 (d) has a downward acceleration of 4 m s-2,
P = 8 000 N (e) falling freely
(b) no acceleration, no FR , P = 6 000 N (f) has a downward acceleration greater than g.

3. Truck and trailer R = his weight if he was standing on a scale

Calculate (a) the acceleration of the truck and graduated in newtons.
trailer, (b) the tension T in the tow bar. Remember that FR and the acceleration are in the
same direction.
mass of truck = 1 000 kg
mass of trailer = 3 000 kg R
T 8 000 N
pulling force

friction 2 000 N 1 000 N

Consider the forces on each body separately.

For the truck (a) At rest

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No resultant force, no acceleration, R = W Force of wall on water =
W = mg = 80 x 10 = 800 N R = 800 N
(b) Moving with constant velocity
No resultant force, R = W R = 800 N
(c) Lift accelerating upwards = = - 2.88 kg m s-2 = - 2.88
Unbalanced force is R – W
R – W = ma N
R – 800 = 80 x 4 R = 1 120 N Force of water on wall, by Newton’s law 3 = 2.88 N
(He weighs 1 120 N. The man pushes down with = 2.9 N (2 s.f.)
an equal and opposite force to R by Law 3.)
(d) Lift accelerating downwards 7. Hovering helicopter
Unbalanced force is W – R
W – R = ma
800 – R = 80 x 4 R = 480 N
(He weighs 480 N.)
(e) Lift falling freely RESCU
From Law 2, W–R=ma E
W–R=mg
- R = m g – W = 800 – 800
-R=0N R=0N A helicopter hovers by forcing a column of air
(He is weightless) downwards. The force down on the air produces
(f) acceleration greater than g. an equal force up on the helicopter, by Newton’s
The lift would have to be pushed downwards by law 3, which must balance its weight.
some form of propeller or rocket engine to give it an
acceleration greater than g. What is the maximum weight of the helicopter if the
If the downward acceleration is say 2g, the man rotors force 1 000 kg of air downwards at 15 m s-1
would rise to the ceiling. each second?
He will exert a reaction on the ceiling equal and
opposite to (m 2g – mg) = (80 x 2 x10 – 80 x 10) change in momentum of air in 1 s = m v
= 800 N and push upwards with a force 800 N. = 1 000 kg x 15 m s-1 = 15 000 kg m s-1
force acting on air =
6. Force due to water flow
= = 15 000 N
Upward force on helicopter = maximum weight
wall = 15 000 N
v

8. Two masses on a spring

v wate A
Calculate the acceleration of the 5 kg mass when
rr
the thread is burned through.

light spring

Water leaves a hose pipe of cross sectional area

3.2 x 10-4 m2 with a horizontal velocity of 3.0 m s-2.
It strikes a vertical wall and runs down without 0.5 kg
rebounding. What is the force exerted on the wall?
(density of water = 1000 kg m-3) thread

volume of water hitting the wall in 1 second 0.2 kg

= length x area = 3 m x 3.2 x 10-4 m2
mass of water hitting the wall in 1 second weight = 5 + 2 = 7 N
= volume x density unbalanced force on the 0.5 kg mass = 7 – 5 N
= 3 m x 3.2 x 10-4 m2 x 1000 kg m-3 = 2 N upwards
= 0.96 kg acceleration a = FR / m
Horizontal momentum before hitting wall = m v a = 2 N / 0.5 kg = 4 m s-2 upwards
= 0.96 kg x 3.0 m s-1 = 2.88 kg m s-1
Horizontal momentum after hitting wall = 0
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What two forces act on the book?

Impulse The pair of forces are not R and W

1. The product of force x time is called the impulse where, R = reaction force of the table on the book
of a force. and W = weight of the book.

impulse = force x time They are not a Newton’s third-law pair – they are
not the same type of force, and they act on the
From Law 2, same object. When you take away the table the
force x time = change of momentum weight of the book remains.

impulse = change of momentum There are two Newton pairs here:

(i) The pull of the Earth on the book and the pull of
Units are N s or kg m s-1 . the book on the Earth (gravitational forces) and
2. Impulse is a measure of the effect of a force. (ii) the push of the book on the table and the push
Increasing the time reduces the force needed to of the table on the book (contact forces).
produce the same change in momentum. Notice that in each case removing one force makes
the other vanish.
The area under a force time graph equals the total
impulse acting, and this equals the change in 2 Two force meters pulling on each other
momentum produced. The reading on each is the same.
One measures the pulling force on the stand
Example holding the force meter. The other measures the
The force acting on a tennis ball of mass 60 g force that the stand exerts on you.
during a return shot is shown.
F
200 N
3. One roller skater pushing on another
The force is equal and opposite, but the
acceleration will be different since they have
different masses. The person with the smaller
mass gains the greater velocity
0 0.030 t/s
(a) What is the impulse on the ball?
4. Collision between a car and a fly
(b) What is the velocity of the return shot if the ball
The car has a force of say 0.5 N acting on it in a
reaches the player with a velocity of 22 m s-1?
backward direction which makes no apparent
difference to its motion. The fly has a forward
(a) impulse = 3.0 kg m s-1.
force of 0.5 N acting on it. This gives it a huge
(b) change in momentum = final momentum – initial
forward acceleration as it is squashed against the
momentum
windscreen.
3.0 kg m s-1. = final momentum – 0.060 x 22 m s-1.
final momentum = 1.7 N s
velocity = p/m = 1.7/ 0.06 = 28 m s-1

Newton’s Third Law

This law tell us that
1. Forces always occur in pairs,
2. Both forces are always of the same type, i.e.
both gravitational, both electrostatic, etc.
3. The forces are equal in magnitude and opposite
in direction. ( FAB = - FBA )
4. The forces do not cancel out because they act
on different objects.

Examples

1. Book on a table
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Elastic and Inelastic collisions

Conservation of Momentum
The law of conservation of momentum states that 1. A perfectly elastic ball is one that bounces back
to the same height. Its k.e. just before impact
the total linear momentum of a system of equals the k.e. just after impact.
interacting (e.g. colliding) bodies remains constant 2. Consider a moving trolley A of mass mA
provided there is no resultant external force. colliding with a second identical stationary trolley B
of mass mB.
Possible outcomes are:
We combine Newton’s second and third law.
u1 u2 v1 v2

A B A B

u1 › u2 - F 2 = F1 v 2 › v1

A collides with B. During the collision, the forces at rest new velocity v
are equal and opposite. (a)
F1 acting on B in time t during the collision changes mA mB.
the momentum of B, while F2 acting on A in the
same time changes the momentum of A. v/2
(b)
F1 t = - F2 t
change in momentum of B = - change in v/4 3v/4
momentum of A (c)
(m2 v2 – m2 u2) = - (m1 v1 – m1 u1)

m1 u1 + m 2 u2 = m 1 v 1 + m 2 v 2 (a) an elastic collision.

A come to rest, and B moves off with the velocity
Total initial momentum = total final momentum that A had initially.
In an elastic collision, k.e. is conserved.
The relative velocity of approach always equals the
See IOP expt to investigate the conservation of relative velocity of separation.
momentum using an ait track or trolleys.
(b) a totally inelastic collision.
The trolleys stick together during the collision and
Also pg 54 Adv Pys for You. move with half the velocity that A had.
glider m1 = 0.30 kg m2 = 0.2 kg Momentum is conserved.
motion to the right taken as positive, and to the left The relative velocity of separation is zero. A large
as negative. amount of k.e. is lost as heat and sound.

(c) inelastic collision

Before After
u1 u2 m1u1 m2u2 v1 v2 m1v1 m2v2
The trolleys do not stick together and some k.e. is
0.50 0 0.15 0 0.30 0.30 0.09 0.06 lost. Momentum is conserved.
0.50 -0.50 0.15 -0.10 -0.30 0.70 -0.09 0.14
0 0 0 0 -0.40 0.60 -0.12 0.12 (Check using a mass of say 2 kg and velocity of
0.40 0.20 0.12 0.04 0.30 0.35 0.09 0.07
2 m s-1.)

3. An explosion is an inelastic situation because

there is no k.e. before the explosion but there is
after the explosion.
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Example 2 Situations in which the earth is involved

(i) Pushing a car to get it moving.
The Relative Velocity Rule Your feet push back on the Earth, so that its
In a perfectly elastic collision: momentum also changes, in the opposite direction.
(This is equivalent to an explosion.)
(the relative velocity before the collision) = (ii) An object falling.
- (the relative velocity after the collision) When a ball falls, it accelerates, i.e. it gains
momentum. (The Earth is also
u1 – u2 = - (v1 – v2) accelerated minutely in the opposite
direction, so momentum is conserved.
before after
The force is gravity.)
u1 u2 v1 v2
(iii) A ball bouncing off a wall
The ball’s momentum is reversed. (Momentum is
transferred to the wall and Earth by the contact
force.)
m1 m2 m1 m2
(iv) A ball rolling to a halt.
The ball loses momentum. (Its momentum is
Proof:
transferred to the Earth via friction).
momentum is conserved:
m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2
These all emphasise the need to think of the closed
m1 u1 – m1 v1 = m2 v2 – m2 u2 (i)
system with which we are concerned.
K.E. is conserved:
½ m1 u12 + ½ m2 u22 = ½ m2 v12 + ½ m2 v22
Example 3 Momentum and Explosive forces
m1 u12 – m1 v12 = m2 v22 – m2 u22 (ii)
A bullet of mass 50 g is fired from a rifle of mass 2
kg with a velocity of 100 m s-1.
Divide the two equations to eliminate m1 and m2
(a) What is the recoil velocity of the rifle?
(b) What fraction of the total energy produced by
m1 u12 – m1 v12 = m2 v22 – m2 u22
the explosion does the bullet have?
m1 u1 – m1 v1 m2 v2 – m2 u2
(a) momentum is conserved:
u12 - v12 = v22 - u22
mv (bullet) + MV (rifle) = 0
u1 - v1 v2 – u2
V=- v =- x 100 = -2.5 m s-1.
(u1 - v1)(u1 + v1) = (v2 - u2)(v2 + u2)
u1 - v1 v2 – u2 (b) k.e. of bullet = ½ m v2 = ½ x 0.05 x 1002
= 250 J
u1 + v1 = v2 + u2 k.e. of rifle = ½ x 2 x 2.52 = 6.25 J
u1 – u2 = v2 – v1 total energy = 256.25 J
u1 – u2 = - (v1 – v2) fraction = (250 J/ 256.25 J) x 100 = 98 %

Example1 An elastic collision Note k.e. α

A 2.0 kg object moving with velocity 6.0 m s-1 since k.e. = ½ m v2 = ½ m2 v2 / m and p = mv
collides with a stationary object of mass 1.0 kg.
Assuming that the collision is perfectly elastic, k.e = p2 /2m therefore k.e. α
calculate the velocity of each object after the
collision.
Example 4
momentum is conserved: A neutron of mass 1 a.m.u. collides head on with a
m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2 stationary carbon atom of mass 12 a.m.u. What
2 x 6 + 0 = 2 v1 + v2 fraction of its k.e. is retained by the neutron after
v2 = 12 - 2v1 the collision?

k.e. is conserved: initial velocity of the neutron = u

½ m1 u12 + ½ m2 u22 = ½ m2 v12 + ½ m2 v22 final velocity of the neutron = v
½ x 2 x 62 + 0 = ½ x 2 x v12 + ½ x 1 x v22 final velocity of the carbon atom = V
62 + 0 = v12 + ½ x 1 x v22
momentum is conserved:
Substitute for v2, v1 = 2.0 m s-1 (1 x u) = (1 x v) + (12 x V) (i)
v2 = 8.0 m s-1 (conversion into kg on both sides cancels out).

Check : (i) the relative velocity rule and from the relative velocity rule:
(ii) total k.e. before and after the collision. u = (V – v)
V=u+v (ii)
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combine (i) and (ii) to eliminate V 3. Calculate (a) the acceleration of the system and
(b) the tension in the cord. If the 3.2 kg mass is
u = v + 12(u + v) initially 4.0 m above the ground, how long would it
- 11 u = 13 v take to reach the ground?
u/v = - 11/13
frictionless pulley
the minus sign indicates that the neutron bounces
back off the carbon atom.

The fraction of the k.e. retained by the neutron is

½ m v 2 / ½ m u2 = v2 / u2 1.0 kg
= 112 /132 3.2 kg
= 0.72

4. A neutron of mass 1.67 x 10-27 kg, moving with

a velocity of 2.0 x 104 m s-1 , makes a head on
collision with a boron nucleus of mass
17.0 x 10-27 kg originally at rest. Find the speed of
the boron nucleus if the collision is perfectly elastic.

5. A builder’s crane is a simple device that allows

a person to haul himself/herself up using a pulley.

Questions - Dynamics

Recall Questions
1. (a) State Newton’s laws of motion.
(b) What is a free-body force diagram?
(c) In what situation will no resultant force act on
an object?
(d) What is meant by a resultant force?
(e) Define the unit of one newton.
(f) What is the difference between mass and
weight?
The builder has a mass of 75 kg and the cradle a
mass of 35 kg. The builder pulls on the rope with a
2. (a) What is momentum?
force of 650 N.
(b) State the principle of conservation of
The rope will exert a force of 650 N upwards on the
momentum.
man and 650 N upwards on the cradle.
(c) What is the area under a force-time graph
equal to?
(a) Explain why the net upward force on the man
(d) What is the difference between an elastic and
is:
inelastic collision?
force exerted by the floor of the lift (F) – (weight of
(e) Define impulse.
man – 650 N)
(f) Is an explosion an elastic or inelastic situation?
(g) How do crumple zones in cars reduce injury to
(b) Explain why the net force on the cradle is:
passengers?
650N – weight of the lift – force man exerts on the
cradle (F)
Concept Questions
(c) Calculate the acceleration of the cradle and
the force exerted by the man on the floor of the
1. A model helicopter of mass 5.0 kg rises with
cradle. To do this you will have to use the two
constant acceleration from rest to a height of
equations given in (a) and (b).
60 m in 10 s. Find the thrust exerted by the rotor
blades during the ascent. (Cam 86)
Answer
The net force in (a) is equal to mass of man x
2. A trolley of mass 0.80 kg runs freely, without
acceleration of man.
accelerating, down an inclined plane when
The net force in (b) is equal to the mass of the
the plane makes an angle of 5.0° with the
cradle x acceleration of the cradle.
horizontal. Find the force parallel to the plane
resisting the motion. (Cam 87)
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The force that the floor of the lift exerts on the man assumptions you have made. Take the mass of the
(F) is equal and opposite to the force that the man Earth to be 6 x 1024 kg.
exerts on the cradle (F).

As the acceleration of both man and cradle is the

same you can solve these equations
simultaneously. 8. A horse pulls on a carriage. If the force on the
carriage is equal and opposite to the force on the
650 N 650 N horse how can the horse pull the carriage? Is the
answer:
F (a) The horse cannot pull the carriage because the
carriage pulls as hard on the horse as the horse
pulls on the carriage.
(b) The carriage moves because the horse pulls
slightly harder on the carriage
F (c) The horse pulls the carriage before it has time
735 N to react.
343 N (d) The horse can pull the carriage only if the
horse is heavier than the carriage.
Force on man = F – (735 – 650) = 75 a (e) Another explanation. What might it be?
Force on cradle = 650 – 343 – F = 35 a
Acceleration = 2 m s-2 Answer
Force = 235 N The answer is (e), of course. The horse is joined to
the ground by its hooves whilst the carriage rolls on
wheels. This means that one force pulls on the
6. When an object of mass M and velocity u carriage whilst other of the Newton pair pulls on the
collides head-on elastically with a stationary object Earth and horse.
of mass m then mass m moves off with velocity vb
given by: -
2M
vb  u
M m
and the mass M changes speed from u to va where
va is given by:-
Mm
va  u
M m

(a) A golf club head has a mass very much larger

than that of the ball. Use the above formula to
show the golf ball will be driven from the tee at
about twice the speed of the golf club head.

(b) An alpha particle makes a head on collision

with a stationary helium atom. Show the alpha
particle will stop and the helium atom will move off
with the original speed of the alpha particle.
(Assume an alpha particle and helium nucleus has
the same mass)

(c) A fast moving electron collides with a

stationary heavy atom. Show the electron bounces
back with nearly the same speed.

7. In October 1999 the United Nations announced

that the world’s population had reached
6 billion (6 x 109) and that the population of the
People’s Republic of China was rapidly
approaching 1.3 billion. Imagine a situation in which
the entire population of China were gathered
together and, all at the same time, they each
jumped as high as they were able. Estimate the
speed that would be (temporarily) imparted to the
Earth as a result of this jump. Show all your
calculations and reasoning and state clearly any