PHYSICS for Sciences and Engineering / 101

Chapter 5 : The Laws of motion

Q1: A woman weighs . Determine
(a) her weight in newtons and
(b) her mass in kilograms.

a) The woman’s weight is the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on her,
given by

⃗ ( )

b) Her mass is
⃗

Q3: A object undergoes an acceleration given by ⃗ ̂

̂ ⁄ . Find
(a)the resultant force acting on it and
(b) the magnitude of the resultant force ?
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Ms. Lara Samen
⃗ ̂ ̂ ⁄

a) The total vector force is

∑⃗ ⃗

̂ ̂
̂ ̂

b) Its magnitude is

|∑ ⃗ | √

|∑ ⃗ |

Q8: (a) A car with a mass of is moving to the right with a constant
speed of . What is the total force on the car?
(b) What is the total force on the car if it is moving to the left?
The force on the car is given by
∑⃗ ⃗ , or, in one dimension, . Whether the car is moving to the
left or the right, since it’s moving at constant speed, and therefore
∑⃗ for both parts (a) and (b).

Q15: Two forces, ⃗ ̂ ̂ , and ⃗ ̂ ̂ act on a

particle of mass that is initially at rest at coordinates
(a) What are the components of the particle’s velocity at ?
(b) In what direction is the particle moving at ?
(c) What displacement does the particle undergo during the first ?
(d) What are the coordinates of the particle at ?

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Ms. Lara Samen
a) We start from the sum of the two forces:

∑⃗ ⃗ ⃗

̂ ̂ ̂ ̂

∑⃗ ̂ ̂

The acceleration is then:

⃗ ̂ ̂

∑⃗ ⃗

∑⃗
⃗

̂ ̂

⃗ ̂ ̂

and the velocity is found from

⃗ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
̂ ̂

⃗ ̂ ̂

̂
̂

b) The direction of motion makes angle with the direction.

( )

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 ( )

c) Displacement:
⃗ ̂ ̂

⃗ ̂ ̂

d) Position:
⃗ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
⃗ ̂ ̂

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Ms. Lara Samen
Q19: Two forces ⃗ and ⃗ act on a object. Taking and
, Find the acceleration of the object for the configurations of
forces shown in parts
(a) and (b) of figure P5.19?

a)
(a)
∑⃗ ⃗ ⃗

̂ ̂

∑⃗ ⃗

̂ ̂

∑⃗ ⃗

⃗ ̂ ̂ ⁄
| ⃗| ⁄

b)
(b)

⃗ ̂ ̂

∑⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗⃗

̂ ̂ ⃗⃗
⃗ ̂ ̂ ⁄
| ⃗| ⁄

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Ms. Lara Samen
Q22: Three forces acting on an object are given by ⃗ ̂ ̂ ,
⃗ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ̂ the object experiences an
acceleration of magnitude ⁄
(a) what is the direction of the object
(b) what is the mass of the object ?
(c) if the object is initially at rest ,what is its speed after
(d) what are the velocity component of the object after

∑⃗ ⃗

⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗
̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ⁄ ̂

a) Where ̂ represent the direction of ⃗⃗ .

̂ ̂ ⁄ ̂
∑
( ) ( )
∑

∑⃗ √

∑⃗ ⁄ ̂

For the vector to be equal their magnitude and direction must be equal .
Therefore ̂ is at counterclockwise from the x-axis.

b)

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Ms. Lara Samen
c)
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗

|⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗|

d)
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂
̂ ̂

Or another method
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂

Q28: The systems shown in Figure P5.28 are in equilibrium. If the spring
scales are calibrated in newtons, what do they read? Ignore the masses of
the pulleys and strings, and assume the pulleys and the incline in part P5.28
(d) are frictionless.

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Ms. Lara Samen
a) Isolate either mass:
∑⃗ ⃗
(a)

| ⃗⃗| | ⃗|
The scale reads the tension , so

| ⃗⃗|

| ⃗⃗ |

(b)

b) The solution to part (a) is also the solution to (b)

| ⃗⃗ |

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Ms. Lara Samen
c) Isolate the pulley:
(c)
∑⃗ ⃗

⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ ⃗⃗
⃗⃗ ⃗⃗

| ⃗⃗ | | ⃗⃗ |

| ⃗⃗ |

d)

∑⃗ ⃗

⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ ⃗ (d)
Take the component along the incline,

| ⃗⃗ |

Q29: Assume the three blocks portrayed in Figure P5.29 move on a frictionless
surface and a force acts as shown on the block. Determine

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Ms. Lara Samen
(a) the acceleration given this system,
(b) the tension in the cord connecting the and the blocks, and
(c) the force exerted by the block on the block.
a) The resultant external force acting on this system, consisting of all three
blocks having a total mass of , is directed horizontally toward the
right.

Thus, the acceleration produced is

∑⃗ ⃗

∑⃗
⃗

b) Draw a free-body diagram of the block and apply Newton’s second law
to the horizontal forces acting on this block:

∑⃗ ⃗

⃗⃗

| ⃗⃗ |

c) The force accelerating the block is the force exerted on it by the

block. Therefore, this force is given by

∑⃗ ⃗

⃗⃗

⃗⃗

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Ms. Lara Samen
Q33: A bag of cement of weight hangs in
equilibrium from three wires as shown in figure
,two of the wires make angles and
with the horizontal .Assuming the
system is in equilibrium , find the tensions
in the wires ?

( )

( )

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Ms. Lara Samen
Q36: Figure P5.36 shows loads hanging from the ceiling of an elevator that
is moving at constant velocity. Find the tension in each of the three strands
of cord supporting each load.

a) First construct a free-body diagram for the mass as shown in the Figure
5.36(a). Since the mass is in equilibrium, we can require then

Next, construct a free-body diagram for the knot as shown in ANS. Fig.P5.36(a).
Again, since the system is moving at constant velocity, , and applying
Newton’s second law in component form gives

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∑

Solving the above equations simultaneously for and gives

and above we found

b) Proceed as in part (a) and construct a free-body diagram for the mass and for
the knot as shown in ANS. FIG.P5.36(b). Applying Newton’s second law in each
case (for a constant-velocity system), we find:

Solving this set of equations we find:

and

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Q37: An object of mass is observed to have an acceleration ⃗⃗
with a magnitude of in a direction east
of north. Figure P5.37 shows a view of the object
from above. The force ⃗⃗ acting on the object has a
magnitude of and is directed north. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the one other
horizontal force ⃗⃗ acting on the object.

Choose a coordinate system with ̂ East and ̂ North. The acceleration is

⃗ [ ̂ ]̂
⃗ [ ̂ ̂]

From Newton’s second law,

∑⃗ ⃗

̂ ̂
∑⃗ [ ̂ ]̂

And

∑⃗ ⃗ ⃗

So the force we want is

⃗ ∑⃗ ⃗

⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂

⃗ [ ]̂

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Ms. Lara Samen
Q38: A setup similar to the one shown in Figure P5.38 is often used in
hospitals to support and apply a horizontal traction force to an injured leg.
(a) Determine the force of tension in the rope supporting the leg.
(b) What is the traction force exerted to the right on the leg?

Assuming frictionless pulleys, the tension is uniform through the entire length of
the rope. Thus, the tension at the point where the rope attaches to the leg is
the same as that at the block. Fig.P5.38(a) gives a free-body diagram of the
suspended block. Recognizing that the block has zero acceleration, Newton’s
second law gives
a)

⃗⃗ ⃗
⃗⃗

⃗⃗

b)

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∑ ⃗

∑
⃗
⃗
[ ]

Another method for (b)

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Ms. Lara Samen
Fig.P5.38(b) gives a free-body diagram of the pulley near the foot. Here, is the
magnitude of the force the foot exerts on the pulley. By Newton’s third law, this
is the same as the magnitude of the force the pulley exerts on the foot. Applying
the second law gives

∑ ⃗

⃗
⃗
⃗

Q40: An object of mass placed on a

frictionless, horizontal table is connected to a
string that passes over a pulley and then is
fastened to a hanging object of mass
as shown in Figure P5.40.
(a) Draw free-body diagrams of both objects.
Find
(b) the magnitude of the acceleration of the objects and
(c) the tension in the string.

a)

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b)

∑ ⃗

∑ ⃗

Adding these two equations gives :

c)
from equation (1)

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Q45: In the system shown in figure P5.45, a horizontal force ⃗ acts on an
object of mass object ,the horizontal surface is frictionless
Consider the acceleration of the sliding object as a function of .

(a) For what values of does the object of mass object

accelerate upward ?
(b) for what values of is the tension in the cord zero ?
(c) plot the acceleration of the object versus include values of
from - ?
Force acting on block

Force acting on block

a) Eliminate and solve for :

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Ms. Lara Samen
b) Eliminate and solve for :

c)
⁄

Q65: Two blocks connected by a rope of negligible mass are being dragged
by a horizontal force (Fig. P5.65). Suppose , ,
, and the coeffcient of kinetic friction between each block and
the surface is .
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Ms. Lara Samen
(a) Draw a free-body diagram for each block.
(b) Determine the acceleration of the system and
(C) the tension in the rope.

a) See the figure adjoining

b)

Adding these two equations gives :

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Ms. Lara Samen
c)
from equation (2)

Q66: A block of mass is pushed up against a wall by a force ⃗⃗⃗ that

makes an angle of with the horizontal as shown in Figure P5.66.
The coefficient of static friction between the block and the wall is .

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Ms. Lara Samen
(a) Determine the possible values for the magnitude of ⃗⃗⃗ that allow the
block to remain stationary.

a) To find the maximum possible value of ⃗⃗, imagine impending upward motion
as case 1.

{| ⃗⃗| ⃗}

Setting ∑ :

|⃗⃗| ⃗⃗
⃗ ⃗⃗
⃗ |⃗⃗|
⃗ |⃗⃗|

⃗ |⃗⃗|

Setting ∑ :

|⃗⃗| ⃗ ⃗⃗

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗|

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Ms. Lara Samen
To find the minimum possible value of ⃗⃗, consider impending downward
motion. As in case 2,

{| ⃗⃗| ⃗}

⃗ |⃗⃗|

Setting ∑ :

|⃗⃗| ⃗ ⃗⃗

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗|

(b) Describe what happens if the magnitude of |⃗⃗⃗| has a larger value and
what happens if it is smaller.
⃗⃗
⃗⃗

(c) Repeat parts (a) and (b), assuming the force makes an angle of
with the horizontal.
We repeat the calculation as in part (a) with the new angle.
Consider impending upward motion as case 1.

{| ⃗⃗| ⃗}

Setting ∑ :
⃗ ⃗⃗
⃗ |⃗⃗|
⃗ |⃗⃗|

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⃗ |⃗⃗|

Setting ∑ :

|⃗⃗| ⃗ ⃗⃗

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗|

Note: The push cannot really be negative. However large or small it is, it cannot
produce upward motion.

To find the minimum possible value of ⃗⃗, consider impending downward

motion. As in case 2,

{| ⃗⃗| ⃗}

⃗ |⃗⃗|

Setting ∑ :

|⃗⃗| ⃗ ⃗⃗

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗| |⃗⃗|

|⃗⃗|

⃗⃗
⃗⃗

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Ms. Lara Samen