General Physics 1

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 6B – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

Module Outline:
 Newton’s Laws of Motion and Applications
o Mass
o Applications of the Second Law
o Summary
Learning Objectives:
 Apply Newton’s 2nd law and kinematics to obtain quantitative and qualitative conclusions about the v elocity
and acceleration of one or more bodies, and the contact and noncontact forces acting on one or more
bodies.

MASS
New ton’s second law , makes use of the concept of mass. New ton used the term mass as a
synonym for quantity of matter. This intuitiv e notion of the mass of an object is not v ery precise
because the concept “quantity of matter” is not v ery w ell defined.

To quantify the concept of mass, w e must define a standard. I n SI units, the unit of mass is the
kilogram (kg) as w e discussed in your module 1. The terms mass and weight are often confused w ith
one another, but it is important to distinguish betw een them. Mass is a property of an object itself (a
measure of an object’s inertia, or its “quantity of matter”). Weight, on the other hand, is a force, the
pull of gravity acting on an object. Mas and w eight are related as:
w =mg
(W here in m is the mass, and g as the acceleration due to grav ity.)

NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION

New ton’s first law states that if no net force is acting on an object at rest, the object remains at
rest; or if the object is mov ing, it continues mov ing w ith constant speed in a straight line. “The
acceleration of an objects is directly proportional to the net force acting on it, and is inversely
proportional to its mass. The direction of the acceleration is in the direction of the net force acting on
the object.” This is Newton’s second of motion
,
∑
New ton’s second law can be w ritten as an equation: ⃗
Where ⃗ stands for acceleration, m for the mass, and ∑ for the net force on the object. The
symbol ∑ (Greek “sigma”) stands for the “sum of”; stands for force, so ∑ means the vector sum of
all forces acting on the object, w hich w e define as the net force. We rearrange this equation to
obtain the familiar statement of New ton’s second law : ∑ ⃗ New ton’s second law relates the
description of motion to the cause of motion, force. Ev ery force is a v ector, w ith magnitude and
direction, ∑ ⃗ is a v ector equation v alid in any inertial frame. I t can be w ritten in component
form in rectangular coordinates as
 General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 6B – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

An Atwood Machine is a basic physics laboratory dev ice often used to demonstrate basic
principles of dynamics and acceleration. The machine typically inv olv es a pulley, a string, and
a system of masses. Keys to solv ing Atwood Machine problems are recognizing that the force
transmitted by a string or rope, know n as tension, is constant throughout the string, and
choosing a consistent direction as positiv e.

Question: Tw o masses, m1 and m2, are hanging by a massless string from a frictionless pulley. I f
m1 is greater than m2, determine the acceleration of the tw o masses w hen released from rest.
Answer: First, identify a direction as positiv e. Since you can easily observ e that m1 w ill
accelerate downward and m2 w ill accelerate upw ard, since m1 > m2, call the direction of
motion around the pulley and dow n tow ard m1 the positiv e y direction. Then, you can create
free body diagrams for both object m1 and m2, as shown below:

Using this diagram, w rite Newton’s 2nd law equations for both objects, taking care to note the
positiv e y direction: 𝒎𝟏 𝒈 − 𝑻 𝒎𝟏 𝒂 (𝟏), 𝑻 − 𝒎𝟐 𝒈 𝒎𝟐 𝒂 (𝟐). Next, combine the equations and
eliminate T by solv ing for T in equation (2) and substituting in for T in equation (1).
𝑻 − 𝒎𝟐𝒈 𝒎𝟐 𝒂 (𝟐), 𝑻 𝒎𝟐 𝒈 + 𝒎𝟐𝒂 (𝟐𝒃), 𝒎𝟏𝒈 − 𝒎𝟐𝒈 − 𝒎𝟐𝒂 𝒎𝟏𝒂 (𝟏 + 𝟐𝒃). Finally, solv e for the
acceleration of the system.
𝑚1 𝑔 − 𝑚 𝑔 − 𝑚 𝑎 𝑚1 𝑎 (1 + 𝑏)
𝑚1 𝑔 − 𝑚 𝑔 𝑚1 𝑎 + 𝑚 𝑎
𝑔(𝑚1 − 𝑚 ) 𝑎(𝑚1 + 𝑚 )
(𝒎𝟏 − 𝒎𝟐)
𝒂 𝒈
(𝒎𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐)
Alternately, you could treat both masses as part of the same system. Drawing a dashed line
around the system, you can directly w rite an appropriate Newton’s 2 nd law equation for the
entire system.
𝑚1 𝑔 − 𝑚 𝑔 (𝑚1 + 𝑚 )𝑎
(𝒎𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐)
𝒂 𝒈
(𝒎𝟏 + 𝒎𝟐)

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1: if the force is giv en as 2.0N along the x axis and the mass is 500 g, w e
change the latter to 0.50 kg, and the acceleration w ill then automatically come out in m/s 2
w hen New ton’s second law is used. (We set 1 N = 1 kg.m/s2).
Given: F= 2.0 N
m= 500 g convert to kg (0.50kg)
Unknown: a= acceleration
Formula: ∑
⃗
Solution
∑
⃗
Solve first for acceleration since
it is the unknown or the required: ⃗
(Don’t forget to cancel the kg
unit) ⃗
⃗
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2: Force to accelerate a fast car. Estimate the net force needed to
accelerate (a) a 1000kg car at ½ g; (b) a 200g apple at the same rate.
Given: a= ½(9.8 m/s2) =4.9 m/s2
m(car)= 1000kg
 General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 6B – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

m(apple)= 200g convert to kg- 0.200kg

Unknown: ∑
Formula: ∑ ⃗
Solution
a) ∑ ⃗
∑ (1000kg) (4.9 m/s2)
∑ 4900 N
Solve for the net force:
b) ∑ ⃗
∑ (0.200 kg) (4.9 m/s2)
∑ 0.98 N

SAMPLE PROBLEM 3: Force to stop a car. What av erage net force is required to bring a 1500-kg
car to rest from a speed of 100 km/hr w ithin a distance of 55m?

Given: m= 1500kg
s= 100 km/hr convert to m/s= 27.78 m/s= initial velocity
d= 55 m
Unknown: ∑ and ⃗
∑ ⃗
Formula:
+ ( − 1) derived formula ( )
Solution
−( )
Using the derived formula solve
( )
for the acceleration:
−
∑ ⃗
After solving for acceleration ∑ (1 ) (− )
use the solved value to solve for ∑ −
the net force: The force must be exerted in the direction opposite to the initial
velocity which is what the negative sign means.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4: What force is needed to accelerate a child on a sled (total mass = 60.0
kg) at 1.25 ?
Given: m= 60.0 kg
a= 1.25
Unknown: ∑
Formula: ∑ ⃗
Solution
∑ ⃗
Solve for the electric field: ∑ ( )(1 )
∑ 75 N

SAMPLE PROBLEM 5: (a) Find the acceleration of an Atwood Machine if and

(b) Find the tension in the string connecting the two masses.
 General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 6B – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

Given: and
Unknown: Acceleration and Tension
Formula: ( − )
( + )

( + )
Solution
Part a
( − )
( + )
Solve for the acceleration: ( − )
(Do not forget to cancel the units) ( )
( + )
( )

Part b

( + )
( )( )( )
Solve for the tension:
(Do not forget to cancel the unit kg) ( + )

References:
 GI ANCOLI , D, C. (2005) Physics Principles w ith Application. Sixth Edition. P72-82. Pearson
Education, I nc. Upper Saddle Riv er, NJ 07458
 SI LVERO, J, A., (2017) Exploring Life Through Science General Physics 1. P88-115. Phoenix Publishing
House I nc. 927 Quezon Av enue, Quezon City

MODULE 6B ASSESSMENT
 General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 6B – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

PROBLEM SOLVING. Answ er the follow ing in a clean sheet of paper. Write the giv en, complete
solution, and answ er. Do not forget to enclose your answers in a box. (40 points)

1. How much tension must a rope w ithstand if it is used to accelerate a 960 kg car horizontally
along a frictionless surface at 1.20 m/s 2? (5 points)

2. What av erage force is required to stop an 1100 kg car in 8.0s if the car is trav elling a 95 km/hr?
(5 points)

3. What av erage force is needed to accelerate a 7.00 g pellet from rest to125 m/s ov er a
distance of 0.800 m along the barrel of a riffle? (10 points)

4. A 0.140 kg baseball trav elling 35.0 m/s strikes the catcher’s mitt, w hich, in bringing the ball to
rest, recoils backward 11.0 cm. w hat w as the av erage force applied by the ball on the glov e?
(10 points)

5. A particular race car can cover a quarter-mile track (402 m) in 6.40 s starting from a standstill.
Assuming the acceleration is constant, how many “g’s” does the driv er experience? I f the
combined mass of the driv er and race car is 485 kg. What horizontal force must the road exert
on the tires? (10 points)