Forces and motion

MYP5 Physics
Collège et Lycée Saint-Charles

Figure 1: This artistically enhanced image was produced by the Big European Bubble Chamber (BEBC), which started up at CERN in
1973. Charged particles passing through a chamber filled with hydrogen-neon liquid leave bubbles along their paths (Image: BEBC)

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I. Forces and motion: generalities
a) Physics explores the changes affecting objects.
b) One of the major changes that can affect an object if a change of its motion.
c) Motion describes the succession of positions of an object in space through the course of time.
d) Forces are the “causes” that influence the objects’ motions.
e) Forces can also provoke other types of changes in the physical state of objects:
 Changes of shape
 Change of temperature
 Change of matter (chemical organisation, atomic organisation, nuclear organisation)
 Change of nature (change of particles)
f) Forces can also prevent change from happening (Equilibrium)
g) For our descriptions we use scalars and vectors.
 A scalar is a numerical quantity with a unit. Ex: m=23 , 1 kg
 A vector is a quantity with a magnitude and a direction. Ex:

⃗v

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II. Example of a situation: description
To study the way we can describe motion, we will consider situations in class and describe them.
Description of the first situation: parabolic motion

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III. Time

Symbol

SI unit
Validity of

Other
units
Type
Notion Definition Equations
equations
In general terms,
time measures the
Time

Scalar t
rate at which
events happen
A moment in
A moment in time time only
Moment in time

locates the instant makes sense

Point t s
at which an object referring to See: “Speed”, “Velocity”,
on a min
was in a given t0
an arbitrary “Types of movements”
time h
situation relatively t1 SI initial time or
axis
to an arbitrary base y
“Zero” time:
initial time unit t 0=0 s

Δ t=t 1−t 0
Time interval or

An interval of time
or duration refers Ex: Δ t=¿
duration

Δt
to the time spread Scalar See: “Speed”, “Mean speed”,
t
between two “Velocity”, “Mean Velocity”,
moments of time “Acceleration”

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IV. Space

Symbol
Validity of

SI unit

Other
units
Type
Notion Definition Equations
equations
Position is a Vector ⃗x m mm The vector

()
vector that locates (1D, 2D, written in
()
cm x rx
⃗x = y or r⃗ = r y
a point in space 3D) km
components
r⃗ SI z rz
relatively to an only makes
base
Position

arbitrary reference sense

and origin unit referring to an Ex:
origin and a
system of axis ⃗x =¿

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 Δ ⃗x =⃗x1−⃗x 0
Displacement Displacement is a
Δ ⃗x
vector that links Vector
Ex:
two successive (1D, 2D,
positions of an 3D) Δ ⃗r Δ ⃗x =¿
object

V. Distance

The magnitude of the position

vector is the distance between
the position and the origin
Geometrical
Distance x=‖⃗x‖=√ x 2+ y 2+ z 2
d distance is
measures the
measured
Distance

l
length of the
Scalar L along a Ex:
shortest path h straight line x=‖⃗x‖=¿
between two OP m (shortest
points in space
mm
path…)
cm
SI
km
base
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VI. Speed

Symbol

SI unit

Other
Validity of

units
Type
Notion Definition Equations
equations
Instantaneous Always valid but
speed is the difficult to
magnitude of measure and to v=‖⃗v‖=√ v 2x + v 2y + v 2z
the velocity at a interpret with
v
specific moment caution: not to v= lim v
Speed Scalar Δt →0
and measures s
be confused with
the rate at velocity or v= lim
Δx
which an object average speed. Is Δt →0 Δt
−1
covers distance ms
km equal to average
at this moment h speed in a UM.
m mph distance travelled
s v=
Always valid but time taken
Average speed
to interpret with
measures the v
caution: not to v=
d
mean rate at Δt
Average be confused with
which an object Scalar v Ex:
speed average velocity
has covered v avg
s or speed. Is
distance along a
equal to speed in
path
a UM.

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VII. Velocity

Other units
Symbol

SI unit
Validity of

Type
Notion Definition Equations
equations

Instantaneous Always valid but

velocity is a to interpret with
vector that caution: not to
⃗v
represents the be confused with Δ ⃗x
Velocity Vector ⃗v = lim
direction and v
speed or average Δt →0 Δt
the speed of an velocity. Is equal
object at a to average
moment in time ms
−1
velocity in URM
km

m
h Always valid but Δ ⃗x ⃗x 1−⃗x 0
mph ⃗v avg= =
s to interpret with Δt Δt
Average velocity caution: not to
is the rate of the ⃗v avg be confused with Ex:
Average
global Vector average speed or
velocity
displacement of v instantaneous
an object velocity. Is equal
to velocity in a
URM

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VIII. Acceleration

Symbol

SI unit
Validity of

Other
units
Type
Notion Definition Equations
equations

Instantaneous Always valid

acceleration is a Not to be Δ ⃗v
a⃗ = lim
vector that confused with Δt →0 Δt
represents the average
Acceleration direction and Vector a⃗ acceleration.
the magnitude Is equal to
()
ax
a⃗ = a y
of the rate at average az
which the acceleration in a
−2
velocity changes ms UAM
Average m
Always valid Δ ⃗v ⃗v 1−⃗v 0
acceleration is a s
2
a⃗ avg= =
Not to be Δt Δt
vector that
confused with
represents the Ex:
instantaneous
Average direction and
Vector a⃗ avg acceleration.
acceleration the magnitude
Is equal to
of the global
instantaneous
change of
acceleration in a
velocity over an
UAM
interval of time

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IX. Forces : introduction
1. Definition
Forces are a representation of the “causes” of natural phenomena (changes of motion, changes of physical states).
They are a measure of the interactions between objects.

2. Unit
The unit of forces is the newton [N], as a tribute to Isaac Newton, the 17 th century physicist that formulated the laws of
classical mechanics.
m
A force of 1 newton will cause an acceleration of 1 2 to an object that has a mass of 1 kg
s
Example: The weight of an apple is approximately 1 N: F g=1 N ⃗
Fg
3. How do we represent forces?
There are many aspects of a force that we would like to represent:
 Type of interaction (“reason” for the interaction)
 Source of the force (external object applying the force) ⃗
F
 Target of the force (object undergoing the force)
 Direction of the force
 Magnitude of the force (its “size” in newtons)
A very convenient tool to represent these aspects is the vector representation.
Vectors can convey all of this information.

4. Newton’s third law: Action reaction law

If an object applies a force on another, the second object reacts by applying a force on the first
object, of the same magnitude but in the opposite direction.
Figure 2: Action reaction principle
illustrated on a skateboarder.
https://www.dimanregional.org/
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 5. Scenarios of interactions

No interaction – example: photon and a massive object

As photons have no mass, they do not interact with masses.

Attractive force – example: gravitation force between two massive objects

Reason for the interaction: two masses in presence attract each other
⃗
F G m , M : action of M exerted on m
⃗
F G M , m: reaction of m exerted on M
Direction: along the line that connects the centers of each object
Mm
Magnitudes: F G m , M =F G M , m=G 2
r

Repelling force – example: reaction of solid surfaces

Reason for the interaction: electromagnetic forces that bind atoms together in a solid material keep the surfaces from
entering in one another

⃗
F L: Load of the block exerted on the surface as the block tends to go towards the earth

⃗
F N : normal reaction of the surface to the load of the block, repelling the block the right
angles to the horizontal surface
Direction: at right angles with the surface of contact
Magnitudes: F L =F N

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 6. Fundamental forces
All the forces observed in nature can be explained by the presence of only four fundamental forces : gravitation,
electromagnetism, strong and weak forces. In our daily lives, we only observe macroscopic forces due to two of them:
gravitation and electromagnetism. Contemporary physicists are trying to find a theory that unifies the four fundamental
forces. Theories bringing them all together except gravitational force already exist. With the discovery of the Higgs boson,
the path to a great unification seems to be emerging even more.

7. Gravitational force
The gravitational force is what keeps you on earth, what makes the moon revolve
around the earth, the planets around the sun, and the solar system around the
center of the Milky Way. It is a macroscopic force: it acts over great distances.
Classically, according to Newtonian mechanics, the gravitational force is exerted
between two bodies that have mass. It acts along the line that connects the two
Figure 3 Modern vision of gravitation: masses change masses and tends to bring them together: it is a force of attraction. Both bodies
the shape of space-time
undergo a force of attraction of the same intensity. But according to the greatness
of their masses, the effect of this force on them will be more or less important.
The gravitational force depends on the mass of the bodies that attract each other. The greater their combined masses, the
greater the attraction. If you could walk on the sun, gravity would be about 30 times greater than on earth, because the
mass of the sun is about 300,000 times greater than that of the earth, but its radius is also greater (about 100 times).
The magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by two bodies of mass ❑❑ and
❑❑ located at a distance r from each other is given by the relation:
❑❑ ❑❑
❑
❑
: gravitational constant. G=6.67·❑−11❑❑❑❑
Question:
Two students of 70 kg mass each stand at a

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distance of 1 m from one another. How big is the
gravitational force between them? Draw a
diagram of the situation and calculate the
magnitude of the forces.

8. Electromagnetic force
Except for the gravitational force, all the forces we directly observe through our senses are all due to a single fundamental
force: the electromagnetic force. Indeed, it is this force that is at the origin of the interactions between atoms, therefore
chemical reactions, elastic force, electricity, normal force, the operation of electric motors ... It is a force that encompasses
the electric force and the magnetic force, as well as forces that link electricity and magnetism. Electricity and magnetism
are intimately linked, like two sides of the same coin.
Electrostatic force Figure 4: The operating principle of the electric motor is
electromagnetic: the relative movement of a magnet and a
The electrostatic force is the force that exists between stationary electric charges. conductor causes a current in the wire
For example, an electron is negatively charged and is attracted to a proton that is
positively charged. The peculiarity of the electrostatic force is that it can be attractive, as in the example given and like the
gravitational force, but it can also be repulsive, which gravitation never is. The electrostatic force is attractive when it acts
between two bodies having different types of electric charges (positive and negative) and repulsive when it acts between
two bodies of the having the same type of electric charges (positive and positive, or negative and negative).
q2
The magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by two charges of charge q❑ q1
and q❑ located at a distance r from each other is given by the relation:
1 q❑ q❑
4 π ϵ 0 ❑❑
2
1 9 Nm
With 4 π ϵ 9 ∙ 10 2 Elementary charge: e=1.6 ∙ 10−19 C
0 C

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Question:
Two charges at 1 cm distance repel each other with a force of 7 ∙ 10−15 N .
The first one has a negative charge made of 1012 electrons, calculate the
charge of the second one. Draw a diagram of the situation.
Magnetic force
The simplest magnet is a magnet with two poles: a north pole and a south pole. This name is
historical: the north pole of a magnetic needle indicates the North. But the geographic North Pole
of the Earth happens to be a magnetic South Pole! As for the electric force, two poles of the same
type attract each other, and two different poles repel each other. This is
a case of magnetic force. But unlike electric charges, you can never find
an isolated north or south pole. A north pole is always accompanied by
at least one south pole. Thus, if you cut a bipolar magnet in half, you
Figure 5 Earth's poles
will get two magnets, each having a south pole and a north pole. A
magnet can magnetize ferromagnetic materials such as iron if they are close. The iron is then Figure 6: Spikes created by a
attracted to the magnet. But as soon as he moves away from it, his thermal agitation magnetic liquid drop
field in a ferromagnetic

demagnetizes it.

9. Strong force
The strong force is a force that you cannot observe directly with your senses, because it acts on extremely
small scales: at the scale of atomic nuclei and even at smaller scales. It is a force of attraction that holds
together protons and neutrons from atomic nuclei, despite electrical repulsion. It also holds together the
components of protons and neutrons: quarks. For example, a proton is formed of two "up" quarks and one
Figure 7: A proton "down" quark (see illustration). The "strong" force bears this name because it has a strange property: unlike
made of three the gravitational and electromagnetic forces which decreases when objects move away, the force strong
quarks bound by
strong force increases with distance. Therefore, it is often represented by small springs.

10. Weak force

The weak force is the least common force in the universe: the probability of an event involving the weak force occurring is
quite low compared to other fundamental interactions. It is involved in some radioactive decays, for example, the β decay.
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 11. Newton’s first law: Inertia
This principle, already glimpsed by Galileo and clarified by Descartes, was formulated by Isaac
Newton as the first of the three fundamental laws of mechanics in his Principia.
Principle of inertia: A body remains stationary or pursues a URM as long as no external force acts
on it.
Mathematically: ∑ ⃗
F =0≤¿ ⃗v =⃗
const

The idea of external force is important: for example, you cannot lift yourself by pulling on your belt.
Exteriority obviously depends on how one views things. It is the eye of the observer that defines a
unit, puts it in an arbitrary "envelope" something that is, most of the time, an overly complex
Figure 8: Isaac Newton
system. But the law remains true regardless of the system considered.
Question:
Can you think of an example of an inertial
situation? Describe it and draw its diagram.
Mass
We know from experience that it is easier to set certain bodies in motion: you do not have to apply the same force to give
a 1 m/s 2 acceleration to a cabinet or to a book. This is because they have a different capacity to resist a change in their
movement. This resistance of bodies to the change in their velocity is called "inertia". The inertia of a body is quantified
by its mass, which is measured in kilograms [kg] in the SI system. It is the same quantity that is responsible for the gravita-
tional interaction. Mass is a fundamental property of matter. Despite its ubiquity in physics and in our daily lives, the na -
ture of mass is not really known and gives rise to intense research, including that of the Higgs boson, supposedly at the
core of gravitational interaction.

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 12. Newton’s second law :
If an external force can change the velocity of an object, we can reformulate the principle of inertia in reverse: if an
external force is applied to a massive body, it will undergo a change of its motion; and if a massive body undergoes a
change of its motion, it is that an external force is applied to it.
The magnitude of the force and the magnitude of the acceleration are related. The more the body accelerates, the
greater the force that causes the acceleration must be. The force is proportional to the acceleration: ⃗F ∝ ⃗a
But not all bodies have the same inertia. To obtain a given acceleration, the greater the mass, the more the intensity of
the force to be applied will be. The intensity of the force is therefore proportional to the mass: F ∝ m
Finally, there can be several forces that apply to a given body but there can be only one effect: a single acceleration . The
determining parameter is therefore the resultant of the external forces acting on the body, which is found by adding these
forces. The acceleration that the body will undergo will have the same direction and direction as the result of external
forces.
Taking all these parameters into account, we can formulate Newton's second law of classical mechanics. This is an
extremely important law because it makes it possible to quantify the links between the external forces applied to a body,
the mass of the body and the acceleration it undergoes:
∑⃗
F =m ⃗a

∑⃗
F : net force: addition of all external forces acting on an object [N ]

m : mass of the object [kg]

a⃗ : acceleration of the object [m/s 2]

Question:
Draw the diagram and net force of this situation with external forces, net force and
acceleration: a stone of 0.5 kg which falls into the water vertically and undergoes an
Archimedean thrust of a magnitude of 2 N and a frictional force of an intensity of 1 N.

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X. Classification of forces
Forces observed in nature are of different types. Their
description depends on the scale at which we observe the
world: we do not see the same forces if we focus on the flight of
a bird, or on the chemical interactions in its cells or yet on the
interactions between the surface of its feathers and the air. We
can still differentiate forces according to their causes, results,
context. We seek the description that fits best our focus, being
aware that our representations are always models!

13. Macroscopic forces

For a human being, the simplest forces to apprehend are those that act at his scale: the macroscopic scale. These forces
are in reality the result of the combined actions of countless more basic forces. Human scale forces, however, are very
practical for describing and deciphering the phenomena that we can perceive using our senses.

14. Weight
Weight is the force that makes objects fall. It is due to the gravitational pull that the mass of the Earth
produces on all the massive bodies near it.
Just like the acceleration of gravity ⃗g , the force of gravitational force due to the Earth is directed
towards the center of the Earth.
Close to the surface it is vertical and directed downwards: it defines the vertical.
In physics care is taken to distinguish the weight of a body, which is a force, from its mass. However,
the two are related:
m
F p=mg F P: Weight [N ] m : mass of the object [kg] g : acceleration of Earh’s gravity g=9.81 2
s

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 15. Reaction on a solid surface
Standing on a horizontal floor, you experience the pull of gravity. Yet you do not cross the ground to reach the center of
the earth. As you exert a load on the ground, of the same size as your weight, it in return exerts a force of the same
intensity on you (“action-reaction”). The ground is said to "react" to the load being exerted. If a force perpendicular to the
surface of contact thus also called “normal” force. Its fundamental reason is the electromagnetic interactions at the
surface of the solid materials.
Question:
A 20 kg child is sitting on a 10 kg block.
Draw the forces acting on the child and
the forces acting on the block.

16. Traction forces, Pushes and pulls, motive force

Traction forces, motive forces, pushes and pulls are forces that are intended to make objects move. It is a very vague
definition. Their physical nature might be various, but we tend to call by a name that focuses our attention on their
consequence: making objects move.

17. Friction force

When you rub your hands together, you experience resistance, and heat is released. The
reason for this is that the atoms on the surface of your hands interact through
electromagnetic interactions. This opposes surface slippage. It is, like the normal force, a
reaction force. Rough surfaces encounter more friction that smooth ones.
Question:
A child pulls horizontally a 2 kg sled on
the snow and at constant speed. It exerts
on it a horizontal force with an intensity
of 0.2 N. Draw the diagram of the
situation. Find the magnitude of all forces.

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 18. Elastic forces
If you stretch a spring between your hands, the spring will tend to return to its original
shape, and this will result in a pulling force exerted on your hands. All solid objects that
deform slightly have this tendency to return to their original shape: it is the elastic force
that is responsible for this. If the object is too deformed, the atomic bonds inside it can
change and the object thus acquires a new shape. We then move from the "elastic domain"
to the "plastic domain". This is what happens if you pull too much on a spring and it stays
stretched, or if you bend a spoon. An even greater force can undo many atomic bonds so
that the object breaks. Figure 9: Elastic deformation of a bouncing
ball

19. Tension
When pulling on a rope or wire, it is stretched slightly. The elastic force will tend to return the wire to its initial shape by
"pulling" in the opposite direction. So, there will be tension of the wire. At the ends of the wire, this will result in a force
along the wire directed towards the middle of the wire. The force has the same intensity everywhere int eh wire, and in
particular at both its ends. It is thanks to this that one can pull or lift an object with the help of a wire. The direction of
force can also be changed using a pulley. A wire has a maximum tension that it can withstand. Beyond this tension, it
breaks.
Question:
Draw the tension forces acting
on a motionless yo-yo and on
the hand holding the thread.

20. Fluid resistance: Drag

As it moves through a fluid (gas or liquid), a body
displaces volumes of the fluid. These will react with a
force that opposes the movement of the body. Fluid
resistance depends on the shape of the body, its size, the

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speed of the body relative to the fluid (the faster it goes, the greater the
friction) and the fluid (density and viscosity).

21. Buoyancy Towards surface

Sinking Equilibrium
When an object or part of an object is immersed in water, it undergoes a
vertical upthrust due to the pressure exerted by the fluid. This is buoyancy and ⃗
FA ⃗
FA
Archimede’s principle state that the magnitude of the thrust corresponds to ⃗
FA
the weight of the same volume of liquid. So, objects of the same volume will ⃗
Fg
experience the same upthrust, but as their weight might differ, the effect will
be different. It ca be calculated with the following formula: ⃗
Fg
⃗
Fg
F A= ρ f g V i

F A :buoyancy [ N ] ρ f : density of the fluid

[ ]
kg
m
3
g=9.81
[ ]
m
s
2
3
V i :immersed volume [m ]

Question:
An immersed object goes up due to the buoyancy, until it reaches
position where it floats. Draw the buoyancy on these three diagrams. ⃗
Fg
⃗
Fg
⃗
Fg

22. Fictious forces

If an object does not follow an URM, then it can be inferred that it is subjected to a force. But
this deduction is not valid under any conditions. For example, if you are in a car that is going
faster and faster, you will have the impression that the objects outside the car are accelerating
towards you. By putting yourself in a non-inertial reference frame, you will artificially see
objects accelerate when they do not. Looking for forces behind these accelerations, you will
only find fictious forces.
For example, when the driver of a car brakes hard, his body tends to keep its trajectory. But as
the car slows down, the driver will get closer to the dashboard. In the same way, as we follow a
21 Figure 10: Inertial circles of air masses
circular motion around the center of the earth, some winds seem to turn to us while they follow uniform rectilinear
trajectories. This is called the Coriolis inertia force.

23. Static equilibrium

We call “equilibrium” or “static equilibrium”. A situation where all the forces acting on an object cancel each other out, the
object reacts as if no force was acting on it. Hence, it will not change its state. If it was at rest, it remains at rest. But if it
was already moving, then it keeps its motion unchanged. It means that the velocity stays the same in direction and
magnitude. Then, the object will follow a rectilinear trajectory at constant speed.
Lasting immobility or a so called static situation and a uniform rectilinear motion can be treated in the same way. Though it
is not intuitive, physically, it is the same. Actually, immobility is a particular case of URM. As the velocity is zero, and
remains zero, it is a constant velocity of zero. This is why every situation where the sum of the forces is equal to zero is
considered to belong to static equilibrium.
Let us study example of URM situations in class in real situations and in theoretical examples. For every situation:
1. State the type of motion and the corresponding force equation ∑ ⃗F =m ⃗a or ∑ ⃗F =0⃗
2. Chose and draw an efficient system of axis
3. Identify the key moments of the situation
4. Draw the diagram of the key moments of the situation
5. State all the relevant variables on the diagram (positions, times, masses, …)
6. Draw all vectors on the diagram (forces, velocities, accelerations).
7. State the equations that can be used.
8. Calculate the unknown variables (times, positions, velocities, accelerations, forces, masses, volumes, areas...)
9. Plot the position, velocity and acceleration graphs

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XI. Uniform motion (constant speed)

Validity of Equations for Equations for

Notion Definition
equations displacement and velocity acceleration and forces
The position of the
Immobility Only valid
object stays the same Δ ⃗x =⃗0 a⃗ =⃗0
UM with for ⃗v =⃗0 ∑⃗ F =0⃗
during the whole
zero velocity immobility
interval of time
The object moves v⃗ ≠ ⃗0 a⃗ ≠ ⃗0
Uniform with a constant speed ⃗v ≠ ⃗v avg
Only valid ∑⃗ F ≠ 0⃗
motion (only in magnitude s=s avg=const
∑⃗
for a UM F =m ⃗a
UM not necessarily in s=
d
Δt
direction)
UM with a constant Δ ⃗x ≠ ⃗0
Uniform direction. The object ⃗v =⃗ const
a⃗ =⃗0
rectilinear moves with a Only valid ⃗v =⃗v avg
motion constant velocity for a URM v=v avg=s=s avg
∑⃗
F =0⃗
x=x 0 + v 0 t
URM (both in magnitude
v x =v 0 x
and direction)
The object moves Only valid Δ ⃗x ≠ ⃗0; ⃗v ≠ ⃗0 ∑ a⃗ ≠ 0⃗
with a constant speed for a UCM a=
v
2
∑⃗F ≠ 0⃗
UCM on a circular path (the r ∑⃗
F =m ⃗a
v=2 πrf
direction of velocity 1
f= ∑⃗
F ∟ ⃗v
constantly changes) T

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Equilibrium 1 Real life example: Lead ball standing at rest on the table

24
Equilibrium 2 Real life example: Floating ping pong ball
Exercise: in addition to the situation analysis, calculate the immersed volume.

25
Equilibrium 3 theoretical example: stone immersed in sea water at rest at the bottom
A 0.2 liters limestone ( ρ Stone=1300 kg/m3 ¿ is at rest at the bottom in the sea. In addition to the situation analysis, find out the
density of sea water to calculate all forces.

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Equilibrium 4 Real life example: Pulled loaded wooden block just before it starts sliding
Exercise: in addition to the situation analysis, calculate the static friction coefficient μS , knowing that the static friction
force can be expressed as: F fS ≤ μS F N

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Equilibrium 5 Real life example: wooden block at rest on inclined plan

28
Equilibrium 6 Real life example: cart tied with a string on an inclined plane

29
Equilibrium 7 Real life example: toy car moving at constant velocity

30
Equilibrium 8 Real life example: Pulled loaded wooden block sliding at constant velocity
Exercise: in addition to the situation analysis, calculate the kinetic friction coefficient μC , knowing that the kinetic friction
force can be expressed as: F fK =μ K F N

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Equilibrium 9 Theoretical example: person skiing at constant velocity on a straight line
A 80 kg person skiing slides at constant velocity down a 1.7° slope with no effort. In addition to the situation analysis,
calculate the kinetic friction coefficient.

32
Equilibrium 10 Theoretical example: child pulling a sledge
A child pulls a 3,6 kg sledge with an angle of 25° with respect to a 25° slope. In addition to the situation analysis, calculate
the tension in the rope. We assume that the situation is frictionless.

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Equilibrium 11 Personal example
Observe or invent your own equilibrium situation!

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XII. Types of movements: uniformly accelerated movements (constant acceleration)

Equations for
Validity of Equations for displacement
Notion Definition acceleration
equations and velocity
and forces

1 2
The object is accelerated with a ⃗x = ⃗x 0 + ⃗v 0 t + a⃗ t a⃗ =⃗
const
Only valid 2
UAM constant acceleration (both in
for UAM ∑⃗
magnitude and direction) ⃗v =⃗v 0 + ⃗a t F =m ⃗a

The object is accelerated with a

constant acceleration (both in 1 2
x=x 0 + v 0 x t + a x t a⃗ =⃗
const
magnitude and direction) and the Only valid 2
UARM
initial velocity is parallel to the for a UARM ∑⃗
F =m ⃗a
v x =v 0 x +a x t
acceleration, which results in a
rectilinear motion

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XIII. Types of movements: free fall (UAM)

Equations for
Validity of Equations for displacement
Notion Definition acceleration
equations and velocity
and forces

Free fall is a UAM where a⃗ is ⃗g, a⃗ =⃗g

1 2
known both in direction (vertical ⃗x = ⃗x 0 + ⃗v 0 t + ⃗g t
2
towards the centre of the earth) Only valid m
Free fall g=9.81
and in magnitude g). The only for free fall
2
⃗v =⃗v 0 + ⃗g t s
force acting on the object is its
∑⃗
F =m ⃗g
weight

Free fall
As the acceleration ⃗g is vertical, there is no x=x 0 + v 0 t a⃗ =⃗0
on the
acceleration along the horizontal direction.
horizonta ∑⃗
F =0⃗
Thus, on a horizontal axis it is an URM v x =v 0 x
l axis

1
Free fall y= y 0+ v 0 y t+ g y t
2
2

a y =g y
on the
On a vertical axis it is an UARM
vertical v y =v 0 y + g y t ∑ F y =m g y
axis

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Accelerated motion 1: Tennis ball dropped at rest and falling vertically

37
Accelerated motion 2: Ping-pong ball immersed in water surfacing

38
Accelerated motion 3: Tennis ball undergoing a parabolic motion

39
Accelerated motion 4: Cart accelerated along an inclined plane

40
Accelerated motion 5: Cart decelerated along an inclined plane

41
Accelerated motion 6: Object turning at constant speed

42
Accelerated motion 7: harmonic motion: Pendulum

43
Accelerated motion 8: Harmonic motion: bouncing object tied to a spring

44
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