Phys 201 – Introductory Physics

Dr. Rashid Hamdan

Phoenicia University
Chapter 4: forces
Force and Mass
What is a Force?
• A Force is a representation of the interaction of two particles.
• A force is exerted by one object on another object.
• When a force is an object unopposed it would cause a change in the motion of the
object.
• Forces always come in pair. They are the result of the interaction of two object.
• Forces are vectors and should be treated as such.
• A force 𝐹 is characterized by:
• Point of application.( the object or the part of the object the force is exerted
on)
• Direction.
• Magnitude. (The SI unit of measuring force is Newton )
• Forces are usually classified as:
1-contact forces
2-forces acting at a distance.
What is Mass?
• Mass is a measure of how much material are there in an object.
• The mass of an object is ultimately an indication of the number of elementary
particles (protons and neutrons) the object contains.

• Mass is a scalar: it is expressed as a positive number.

• Mass is additive: The total mass of a combined object is the sum of the
masses of its parts.
• The SI unit of mass is kilogram

The mass of the object also quantify its inertia.

• Inertia is defined as “the amount of resistance to change in the velocity”
• The heavier an object is, the more it resistances changes to its motion.
• That is, the stronger the force is required to increase, decrease the magnitude or
change the direction of the object’s velocity.
Net force and force diagram
• In general, an object at any time is interacting with multiple others objects and is acted
upon by more than force.
• In order to study the dynamics of any object, we need to find the net force 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 acting on it.
That is, the vector sum of all the forces acting on it.
𝐹1
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐹𝑖 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + 𝐹3 + ⋯
𝐹2
To resolve this vector equation always follow these steps:
− Draw a diagram of the physical situation of the object. 𝐹3
− List all the force acting on the object being studied.
− Draw the force diagram.
• Use a dot to represent the object. Place all force vector tails on the dot.
• Make sure that vector directions and magnitudes are as accurate as possible, to help visualize how they will add.
• Label each vector with the proper symbol.
− Choose and draw the Cartesian axes. Find the coordinates of each force using projections.
− Find the coordinates of the net force as the sum of coordinates:
Net force and force diagram

 Choose and draw the Cartesian axes: this will allow you to find the
components of the forces and find their sum.
Find the net force on the ball knowing that the forces have the following
magnitudes:
𝐹1 = 10 𝑁 y
𝐹2 = 15 𝑁
𝐹3 = 12 𝑁
And the angle 𝜃 = 30°
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + 𝐹3 𝐹1
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡
𝐹1𝑥 = 0
𝐹1 = 𝐹 = +𝐹
1𝑦 1 x
𝜃
𝐹2𝑥 = +𝐹2 𝐹2
𝐹2 = 𝐹 = 0
2𝑦
𝐹3
𝐹3𝑥 = −𝐹3 𝑐𝑜𝑠30
𝐹3 = 𝐹 = −𝐹 𝑠𝑖𝑛30
3𝑦 3
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑥 = 𝐹1𝑥 + 𝐹2𝑥 + 𝐹3𝑥 = 0 + 15 − 12𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = 4.6𝑁
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑦 = 𝐹1𝑦 + 𝐹2𝑦 + 𝐹3𝑦 = 10 − 12𝑠𝑖𝑛30 = 4𝑁

2 2 Projection on adjacent use cos

𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑥 + 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑦
Projection on opposite use sin
Tan = opp/adj
Angle 𝛼 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 =
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑥
 a
𝐹3𝑥
𝜃
b 𝐹3𝑦
c
𝑎 𝐹3
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝑐
𝑏
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
𝑐
𝑏 𝐹3𝑥 = −𝐹3 ∗ cos 𝜃
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑎 𝐹3𝑦 = −𝐹3 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏2
2 2
For what angle 𝜃 does the net force on the object becomes zero.
𝐹1 = 10 𝑁
𝐹2 = 15 𝑁
𝐹3 =?
y
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + 𝐹3 = 0
𝐹3 = −(𝐹2 + 𝐹1 )

𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑥 = 0
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑦 = 0 𝐹1
x
Project on the x-axis 𝜃 𝐹2
𝐹2 + 𝐹3𝑥 = 0
𝐹3𝑥 = −𝐹2 𝐹3
0 + 𝐹2 + −𝐹3 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0
𝐹3 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐹2
𝐹3𝑦 𝐹1
Project on the x-axis 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = =
𝐹1 + 𝐹3𝑦 = 0 𝐹3𝑥 𝐹2
𝐹3𝑦 = −𝐹1
0 + 𝐹1 + −𝐹3 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0
𝐹3 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝐹1
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝐹1 𝐹1 2 2
−1 𝐹3 = 𝐹3𝑥 + 𝐹3𝑦 = 18𝑁
= = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 → 𝜃 = tan = 33.6°
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝐹2 𝐹2
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Newton’s First Law
• A net force on an object would cause a change in motion.
• However force is not required from motion.
• An object with zero net force would keep doing what it is doing.

An object at rest remains at rest,

and an object in motion remains in
motion with constant velocity,
unless acted upon by a net force.

• Velocity is a vector quantity. Constant velocity means that both the magnitude and
direction are constant.
Newton’s Second Law
• A net force on a object will cause a change in motion.
• The change in motion is the described by the acceleration, which is the rate of change of
Δ𝑉
velocity. 𝑎 =
Δ𝑡
• The objects acceleration is proportional to the net force acting on it.
• The objects acceleration is inversely proportional to its mass.

Both acceleration and force are vectors. Since mass is positive,

the acceleration and the net force have the same direction.

From Newton’s second law the unit of force can be found:

kg.m
1N  1 2
s
Newton’s Third Law
• Newton’s third law describes how forces comes in pairs.
• One object cannot exert a force on another object without itself experiencing a force of
equal magnitude in the opposite direction.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Inertial Reference Frames:
• Newton’s First and second law only holds in reference frames
moving with constant velocity.
• Reference frames with constant velocity that is, zero acceleration
are called inertial reference frames
• Accelerating frames are non-inertial.
Example: Newton on Ice
Two skaters, with masses mA=50kg and mB =80kg, start from rest on frictionless ice and push
off against each other with constant force. Describe their motion during and after the push.

Newton’s third law

FAB  FBA
Newton’s second law
m A a A  FBA
mB aB  FAB
m A a A  mB a B

a A mB

aB m A
Application of Newton’s laws
 Newton’s Second law

• Solving qualitative problems in dynamics usually

involve Newton’s second law. 

Fnet  ma
• Force and acceleration are both vectors with the
same direction.
• In components :
Fnet,x  ma x
Fnet,y  ma y

• The components of a vector could be positive or

negative depending on the direction of the force.
Weight and gravitational acceleration:
• The force of gravity (weight) acts on all objects.
• Near the surface of the Earth, the weight of an object with mass m:
 
w  mg
• 𝑔 is always directed vertical toward the center of the Earth, its magnitude (g) varies over
earth surface and decreases with increasing altitude.
𝑚 𝑁
• Near the surface 𝑔 = 9.8 2 = 9.8
𝑠 𝑘𝑔
• In free fall or projectile motion with ignored air resistance the only force working on the
object is its weight:
 
Fnet  mg  
 
Fnet  ma ag
 
ma  mg
The Normal Force
• The normal force ( n ) is a contact force. It is the force a surface exerts on an object
placed on the surface.
• The normal force is always directed perpendicular to the surface, whether it is
horizontal or inclined.

  
Fnet  w  n  0
Projecting on the y-axis

𝑛 wy  ny  0
Pushing force
𝐹
- mg  n  0
n  mg
 The Friction and Drag
• Friction and drag are the forces that oppose the motion of an object.
• Friction forces results from interaction between the object and a surface it is in contact
with.
• Drag forces affect object moving through a fluids; like skydivers and swimmers.
• There is 3 forms of frictions:
• Kinetic Friction: (or sliding friction) acts on an object sliding over a surface.
• Rolling Friction: involves a round object rolling over a surface.
• Static Friction: acts on a object at rest on the surface and may keep it from moving.
Friction Coefficients
• The magnitude of friction is between a surface and an object on it is proportional to the
magnitude of normal force.
f  μn

• The coefficient of friction μ is a unitless value that depend on the kind of friction and
nature of the surface and the object on it.
• Kinetic friction: fk  μkn
• Static friction: fs  μ s n
• The coefficient of static friction gives the maximum friction that the surface can exert on
an object before it start sliding or rolling.
• Friction only opposes motion or tendency to move, it does not produce motion of
objects at rest.
Friction Coefficients

f  μn

fk  μkn
fr  μr n
fs  μ s n
Tension

• Tension is the force transmitted through

elongated, stretchable structures such as
strings and ropes.
• The tension forces is directed along
direction of a stretched wire, toward its
center.
• The tension force exerted by a stretched
wire has the same magnitude on both ends.

   
mg  n  T  ma
- mg  n  ma y  0
T  ma x
• An astronaut in a space walk near the international space station has a
total mass (including equipment) of 180 kg. she pushes of the space
station with a constant contact force for 0.5 sec. if the astronaut end up
with a speed of 1 m/s away from the station. What would be the speed
of the station itself? 𝑀𝑆 = 420000𝑘𝑔.

For the astronaut For the space station

𝐹𝑆𝐴 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑎𝐴 𝐹𝐴𝑆 = 𝑚𝑆 𝑎𝑆
Project on the x-axis Project on the x-axis 𝐹𝑆𝐴 𝐹𝐴𝑆
−𝐹𝐴𝑆 = 𝑚𝑆 𝑎𝑠𝑥 x A S
+𝐹𝑆𝐴 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑎𝐴𝑥
𝑣𝑥0 = 0 𝐹𝐴𝑆 = 𝐹𝑆𝐴 (in magnitude)
360
After 𝑡 = 0.5 𝑠 → 𝑣𝑥 = +1𝑚/𝑠 𝑎𝑆𝑥 = − = −0.00086𝑚/𝑠 2
1 2𝑚 4200000
𝑎𝑥 = = 2 >0
0.5 𝑠
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑣𝑥0 = −0.00043𝑚/𝑠 𝑣𝐴 𝑣𝑠
𝐹𝑆𝐴 = 180 ∗ 2 = 360𝑁
𝑣𝑆 = 0.00043𝑚/𝑠 A S
 y y

2 masses 𝑚1 = 200𝑔 and 𝑚2 = 120𝑔 hangs vertically by a

massless rope that goes around a massless frictionless
pulley. When the masses are released from rest what is the
acceleration of 𝑚1 ? 𝑇2
𝑇1
The object being studied are 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 𝑚2
The force are on the figure
𝑚1
𝑤2
Massless rope and massless pulley -> 𝑇1 = 𝑇2
𝑤1
If m_1 move a distance d upward -> them m_2 moves the same distance down
In the same time
𝑎1𝑦 = −𝑎2𝑦
 𝑇2
y
𝑚2
2 masses 𝑚1 = 200𝑔 and 𝑚2 = 120𝑔 are attached by a
massless rope that goes around a massless frictionless
pulley. With 𝑚1 hanging vertically and 𝑚2 sliding on a
𝑤2
frictionless horizontal surface
When the masses are released from rest what is the 𝑇1
acceleration of 𝑚1 ?
𝑚1

𝑤1
Uniform circular motion
Uniform Circular Motion
• Another example of motion in a plane is uniform circular motion
• Uniform circular motion is common in our everyday experience and
throughout the universe.
• For a good approximation the motion of Earth around the Sun and the
motion of the moon around the earth are consider uniform circular.
• In uniform circular motion the speed is constant; however, the
velocity is continuously changing,
by continuously changing direction.
• Remember: velocity at any moment
is the tangent to the trajectory.
The period is the time it takes
to complete one rotation
2πR
T
v
Centripetal Acceleration
• The velocity only changes direction. The
magnitude of the velocity is constant.
• Thus there is no acceleration in the same
R
direction of the velocity Δθ
  
a is perpendicular to v a
• The acceleration is along the radial direction
and toward the center (centripetal)
• Both the position vector and the velocity has
their magnitudes constant (only direction
changing).
Δv Δr vt
 
v R R

Δv v 2 v2
 a
Δt R R
Uniform circular motion:
• An object moving at speed v in uniform circular with radius R has a
centripetal acceleration
ar  v 2 R
• Appling Newton’s second law, the net force on the object is along
the radius of the circle traced by the object and directed toward the
center.
Fnet  Fr  m v 2 R
• The centripetal force is the net force acting on the body, Not one of
the forces.
• Tip: when drawing a force diagram for circular motion do not
include a separate force vector for the centripetal force. Show all
the physical forces acting; their vector sum-the net force- is the
centripetal force.