Dynamics

Chapter 12
Forces
• Dynamics is the study of forces.

• Force is a push or a pull on an object.

• The SI unit for forces is kg • m/s2, which is AKA a newton (N).

Forces
Contact Field
Force that acts when A force that acts gravity
one object touches between two objects magnetism
another. that aren’t touching.
electric
Forces
Contact or Field Forces?
• Two cars colliding contact

• Pushing a box contact

• A falling ball field (gravity)

• A game of tug of war contact

• A paper clip ‘jumping’ to a magnet field (magnetism)

• Feeling a ‘shock’ from your doorknob. field (electric)

Forces
• Multiple forces can act on a single object at the same time.

the shape of the wings allow a

build up of air pressure under
the wings to push the plane up

engines push the air resistance pulls

plane forward the back on the plane

gravity pulls down on the plane

• If all the forces acting on an object cancel each other out, we say the forces
are balanced or net force is zero.
Forces
Balanced forces:

• Each team is pulling with the same force, so there is a stalemate. If they can keep
pulling with the same force, there will be no movement, and the net force on the rope
is zero.
Forces
Unbalanced forces:

• If one force acting on an object has more magnitude (is stronger) than the
others, then you have unbalanced forces.
• ***Unbalanced forces ALWAYS produce a net force.
• ***Unbalanced forces ALWAYS cause acceleration (change in motion).
Forces
Balanced or Unbalanced Forces?
• A hovering helicopter balanced (no acceleration)

(tree accelerated as it was being

• A tornado uprooting a tree unbalanced moved by the wind)

(gravity is stronger than the other

• A skydiver falling through the sky unbalanced forces because the diver is falling /
accelerating)

• An airplane flies at constant speed of 150 m/s balanced (no acceleration)

Free-Body Diagrams
Free-body diagrams are also called force diagrams.
• Visual display of all the forces acting on an object.

• Each force is a vector quantity, represented by arrows.

- Length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the force.

- Direction of the arrow represents the direction of the push or pull of the force.
Free-Body Diagrams

Can be simplified to:

Free-Body Diagrams

Can be simplified to:

Free-Body Diagrams

Can be simplified to:

Free-Body Diagrams
Is there a net force (acceleration) displayed in these diagrams, and if so, in which
direction?:

balanced (no
net force) net force net force
(vectors are same
downward downward
size) (longer vector
(longer vector
pointing down) pointing down)
Calculating Net Force
We learned in Chapter 11 that we can add vectors together (with our planes flying
with or into the wind examples). We can do the same free-body diagrams.

• Since these vectors are pointing in opposite directions, one will be (+) and one will
be (-).

• When we add them, we get 300 N + (-300 N) = 0 = balanced

Calculating Net Force
Calculate this net force:

400 N + (-300 N) = 100 N to the left

** forces are vectors, so include a direction!
Calculating Net Force
Solve:
John pushes a lab cart to the left, with a force of 135 N. Sally comes along to help him
and pushes in the same direction with a force of 115 N. What is the net force acting on
the lab cart?
F = 135 N
John Fnet = 135 N + 115 N =
Fnet = FJohn + FSally
F = 115 N
Sally
250 N to the left

John pushes a lab cart to the left, with a force of 135 N. This time, Sally starts to push
in the opposite with a force of 115 N. What is the net force acting on the lab cart?
Fnet = FJohn + FSally
F John = 135 N
F Sally = 115 N
Fnet = 135 N + (-115 N) = 20 N to the left
(-) because it’s in opposite direction!