Physics 71 Lecture Notes

Topic 1.12: Applying Newton's Laws

-Particles in Equilibrium
Particles in Equilibrium

● An object is in equilibrium when it has zero acceleration.

– either at rest, or moving with constant velocity
● In two dimensions, the equilibrium condition for one body is
expressed by the two equations:
∑ F⃗ x=0 ∑ F⃗ y=0
● Note that the x and y axes are not necessarily horizontal and
vertical.
● Only two unknowns can be solved by one set of x,y equation.
● We can use the equilibrium of another body to increase the
number of our independent equations.
 Particles in Equilibrium
Example
A large wrecking ball is held in
place by two light steel cables. If
the mass of the wrecking ball is
4090 [kg], what are the tension TB
in the cable that makes an angle
of 40.0° with the vertical and the
tension TA in the horizontal cable?
m=4090[ kg ] , Start with the FBD:
For the x-components of forces: y−axis
T⃗ B
∑ F⃗ x=0 ∘
T⃗ Bx + T⃗ Ax + w
⃗ x =0 40.0
T⃗ A
∘
(+T B sin 40 )+(−T A)+(0)=0
x−axis
∘
T B sin 40 −T A=0 (1)
w
⃗
 Particles in Equilibrium
m=4090[ kg ] ,
For the x-components of forces: y−axis
T⃗ B
∑ F⃗ x=0 40.0
∘

T⃗ Bx + T⃗ Ax + w
⃗ x =0 T⃗ A
∘
(+T B cos 40 )+(−T A )+(0)=0 x−axis
∘ w
⃗
T B sin 40 −T A=0 (1)
For the y-components of forces:
∑ F⃗ y=0 We can solve for TB using (2)
T⃗ Ay + T⃗ By + w
∘
⃗ y =0 T B cos 40 −mg =0
∘ mg
(0)+(+T B cos 40 )+(−w)=0 E3. Using (1) and the T B=
cos 40∘
T B cos 40 −w=0
∘ value of TB, solve for TA.
T B=52, 400[ N ]
∘
T B cos 40 −mg =0 (2) T A=33, 700[ N ]
 Particles in Equilibrium
Example
A 1130-kg car is held in place by a light
cable on a very smooth (frictionless)
ramp. The cable makes an angle of
31.0° above the surface of the ramp,
and the ramp itself rises at 25.0° above
the horizontal. (a) Find the tension on
the cable. (b) How hard does the
surface of the ramp push on the car?
E4.Draw the FBD, this time use a y − axis
“non standard” x and y axes. T⃗ x− axis
⃗n
Note: The normal force n and the tension 31.0
∘

T are unknowns.
For the x-components
of forces: ∑ F⃗ x=0
T⃗ x + w
⃗ x + ⃗n x =0 w
⃗ ∘
∘ ∘
25.0
(+T cos 31 )+(−w sin 25 )+(0)=0
 Particles in Equilibrium
Note: The normal force n and the tension For the y-components
T are unknowns. of forces:
For the x-components of forces: ∑ F⃗ y=0
∑ F⃗ x=0 ⃗n y + T⃗ y + w
⃗ y =0
T⃗ x + w
⃗ x + ⃗n x =0
∘
(+n)+(+T sin 31 )+(−w cos 25 )=0
∘

∘ ∘
(+T cos 31 )+(−w sin 25 )+(0)=0 ∘ ∘
n+T sin 31 −w cos 25 =0
∘ ∘
T cos 31 −w sin 25 =0 ∘
n=w cos 25 −T sin 31
∘

∘ ∘
You can now solve for T: n=mg cos 25 −T sin 31
w sin 25
∘
mg sin 25
∘ n=7220[ N ]
T= T= =5460[ N ]
cos 31∘ cos 31∘
Part (b) question is asking for the normal force
Particles in Equilibrium
Example
You design a system in which a
granite block on a cart with steel
wheels (weight w1, including both
block and cart) is pulled uphill on
steel rails by a dirt-filled bucket
(weight w2, including both dirt and
bucket) dropping vertically. How
must the weights w1 and w2 be
related in order for the system to
move with constant speed? Ignore
friction in the pulley and wheels and
the weight of the cable.
 Particles in Equilibrium
Relate w1 (weight of the cart) with w2
(weight of the bucket) for the system
to be in equilibrium.

∑ F⃗ x=0
T⃗ x + w
⃗ 1 x + ⃗n x =0
∘
(+T )+(−w1 sin 15 )+(0)=0
∘
T −w 1 sin 15 =0
∘
T =w 1 sin 15
E5. Write down the
equilibrium equation for ∑ F⃗ x=0
the y-part and solve for n. T⃗ y + w
⃗ 1 y + ⃗n y =0
∘
(0)+(−w 1 sin 15 )+n=0
∘
n=w 1 sin 15
 Particles in Equilibrium
Relate w1 (weight of the cart) with w2
(weight of the bucket) for the system
to be in equilibrium.

From the cart's FBD: T =w 1 sin 15∘ (1)

∑ F⃗ x=0
T⃗ x + w
⃗ 2 x =0
0+0=0
No useful information in the x-part
∑ F⃗ y=0
T⃗ y + w
⃗ 2 y =0
(+T )+(−w 2)=0
T −w 2=0 (2)

Equate (1) and (2): w 2 =w 1 sin 15

∘
w 2 =0.26 w1
 Newton's Second Law: General Guidelines
● We apply Newton's second law to objects on which the net force is
not zero.
– Remember that we should have one Newton's law equation per
object. ∑ F⃗ =m ⃗a
● Most of the time we split the above vector equation into its
components:
∑ F⃗ x=m ⃗a x ∑ F⃗ y=m ⃗a y
● By choosing an appropriate coordinate axis, one of the component
acceleration becomes zero.
● If the accelerations of several (combined) objects are pointing in one
direction, then:
– We can apply Newton's second law to the composite system.
– We can also apply Newton's second law to each object in the
system.
● When dealing with more than one object, the acceleration of each
object are usually related.
 Newton's Second Law: Composite system
Example
Three sleds are being pulled horizontally on frictionless horizontal
floor using horizontal ropes. The pull is horizontal and of
magnitude 125 [N]. Find (a) the acceleration of the system and (b)
the tension in ropes A and B.

● We can get the acceleration directly if we treat the three sleds as

one composite object: ∑ ⃗ =m comp⋅⃗a
F
⃗n comp Split into x and y parts:
⃗
P ∑ F⃗ x =m comp⋅a⃗x ∑ F⃗ y =m comp⋅a⃗y
60.0 [kg] ⃗n comp x + w ⃗ x =mcomp⋅⃗a x
⃗ comp x + P ∑ F⃗ y=0
(0)+(0)+(+ P )=mcomp⋅⃗a x No vertical
P motion.
w
⃗ comp a⃗x = a⃗x =+2.08[ m/ s 2 ]
mcomp
 Newton's Second Law: Composite system
● To get the tension in cords A and B, we apply Newton's 2nd Law to
each sled. We draw the FBD of each sled:
⃗n 30kg ⃗n 20kg ⃗n 10kg
T⃗ A T⃗ A ⃗
P
T⃗ B T⃗ B
E6. Draw the FBD
of the 20-kg sled
w
⃗ 30kg (with proper w
⃗ 20kg w
⃗ 10kg
labels).

● Each sled accelerates with the same acceleration as the whole

composite system. ∑ F⃗ =m10 kg⋅⃗a
I use the FBD of the 10kg ∑ F⃗ x=m10 kg⋅⃗a x
sled to calculate for TA: ⃗ A + P=m
⃗
E7. Solve T using either the FBD of
n
⃗ 10 kg + w
⃗ 10 kg + T ax
10 kg⋅⃗
B
the 20-kg sled or the 30-kg sled. 0+0+(−T A)+(+ P )=m10 kg⋅(+a x )
Using the FBD of 30-kg sled:
−T A + P=m10 kg⋅a x
∑ F⃗ x=m30 kg ⃗a x
T B=m30 kg a x T A=P −m10 kg⋅a x T A=104[ N ]
T B=62.4 [ N ]
 Newton's Second Law: Composite system
● To get the tension in cords A and B, we apply Newton's 2nd Law to
each sled. We draw the FBD of each sled:
⃗n 30kg ⃗n 10kg
E2. Draw the ⃗
T⃗ B FBD of the 20-kg T⃗ A P
sled (with proper
labels).
w
⃗ 30kg w
⃗ 10kg
● Each sled accelerates with the same acceleration as the whole
composite system.
E9. Can we solve tensions A and B by using ONLY the FBD of
the 20.0[kg] sled? How or why not?

Answer: Two unknowns, only one equation.