Newton’s Laws of Motion
A force is a push or a pull A force is a vector Force has both magnitude and direction Unit for force is Newtons (N)
When a more than one force acts on a body at the same time, each individual force is called a component force The total sum of all the component forces acting on an object is the resultant force For any one object, there can be several component forces, but only be one resultant force. Sometimes, resultant force is also called “net force”
When there is no resultant force (or resultant force = 0), the object is said to be balanced When there is a resultant force, the object is said to be unbalanced. We will discuss more about balanced and unbalanced forces in this chapter, and later in chapter 5.
Textbook on Penny Board (stationary) Learning Point: An object at rest will want to remain at rest – this effect is sometimes referred to as “inertia” Another illustration: when you are standing still in a stationary bus, and the bus suddenly accelerates forward
Textbook on Penny Board (moving) Learning Point: an moving in a straight line will want to continue moving in a straight line. Another illustration: when a vehicle suddenly brakes Application: Safety features of a Car (seatbelt and headrest)
When there is no resultant force (i.e. balanced forces) An object at rest remains at rest An object in uniform motion remains in uniform motion uniform motion = travelling in a straight line AND constant speed
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Pull a light person sitting on a pennyboard (constant force) What do you observe while the person is being pushed? Is the speed constant? Push a heavier person with the same force. Push the same person, but with a larger force. What do you observe?
When there is a resultant force F resultant, The object experiences an acceleration in the same direction of F resultant This acceleration is the ratio of F resultant to the mass of the object Equation form: F resultant = ma
Textbook Pg 54, Work Example 3.2 A boy pushes a stationary box of mass 20 kg with a force of 50 N. Calculate the acceleration of the box (assume no friction) F= ma a = F/m = (50)/(20) = 2.50 ms -2 in the direction of the applied force
Newton’s First Law: Object at rest remains at rest Object in uniform motion remains in uniform motion Newton’s Second Law: F = ma