Chapter 4

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Easy problems

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

1) What is the weight of a 10.2 kg object?
𝑤 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑚
𝑤 = 10.2 𝑘𝑔 9.8
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2
𝑤 = 100 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠

2) A 5 kg object rests on a horizontal table surface.

What is the normal force acting on the object?
𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑁 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑚
𝑁 = (5 𝑘𝑔)(9.8)
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2
𝑁 = 49 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠
3) A 10.2 kg object is at rest on a horizontal surface.
The coefficient of static friction is 0. 5.
The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.3 .
What is the minimum force needed to set the object in motion?
The minimum force is just enough to overcome the the maximum
resistance of static friction.
ƒs = µs·N
ƒs = µs·mg
ƒs = (0.5)(10.2 kg)(9.8 m/sec2) = 50 Newtons

4) A 5.0 kg object is sliding along a horizontal surface.

The coefficient of static friction is 0. 5.
The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.3 .
What is the frictional force acting on the object?
The frictional force is the force of kinetic friction.
ƒs = µk·N
ƒs = µk·mg
ƒs = (0.3)(5.0 kg)(9.8 m/sec2) = 14.7 Newtons
5) A 10.2 kg object is suspended above ground by a rope.
What is the tension in the rope?
Sum of the vertical forces is zero.
T–w=0
T=w
T = mg
T = (10.2 kg)(9.8 m/sec2) = 100 N.

6) A 5.0 kg object is being raised by a rope.

The acceleration of the object is 2 m/sec2 upward.
What is the tension in the rope?
Sum of the vertical forces = ma
T – w = ma 7) A 5.0 kg object is being lowered by a rope.
T = w + ma The acceleration of the object is 2 m/sec2 downward.
T = mg + ma What is the tension in the rope?
T = 49 N + 10 N Sum of the vertical forces = ma
T = 59 N T – w = ma
T = w + ma
T = mg + ma
T = 49 N + 5 kg)(-2 m/sec2)
T = 49 N – 10 N = 39 N
 8) A 1600 kg Mustang accelerates from 0 to 30 m/sec in 10 sec.
What is the net force needed to obtain this acceleration?
Fnet = ma
Fnet = m(∆v/∆t)
Fnet = (1600 kg)(30-0) (m/sec)/10 sec
Fnet = (1600)(3) Newtons
Fnet = 4800 Newtons

9) A 10 kg box is dragged along the Fnet = ma

floor by a rope (acting horizontally). T – ƒk = ma
T = ƒk + ma
The coefficient of static friction is 0. 5
T = µkN + ma
The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.3 T = µkmg + ma
The acceleration of the box is 5 m/sec2. T = (0.3)(10)(9.8) Nts+10(5) Nts
What is the tension in the rope? T = (29.4+50) Nts
T = 79.4 Nts
10) A .15 kg ball is falling and its downward
acceleration is 9.0 instead of 9.8 m/sec2. The reason
for this is that air resistance opposes its fall. What is
the magnitude of the force of air resistance.
Sum of the vertical forces = ma
Weight + air resistance = ma …. Air resistance is classified as “Other”
-mg + Air resistance = ma
Air resistance = mg + ma
Air resistance = [.15(9.8)+.15(-9.0)] Nts
Air resistance = [14.7 - 13.5] Nts
Air resistance = 1.2 Nts