How to use Newton’s Second Law
Newton’s first law predicts motion of objects with forces which are balanced. Objects at rest v = 0 m/s Remain at rest Forces are balanced a = 0 m/s2 Objects in motion v ≠ 0 m/s Stay in motion at constant velocity
But when the forces are unbalanced ACCELERATION results! The acceleration depends on: NET force Mass of the object The acceleration is in the same direction as the net force. Both are vectors!
Is there a net force? Yes or No?
Example Problem 1 Determine the accelerations that result when a 12-N net force is applied to a 3-kg object and then to a 6-kg object.
Example Problem 2 A 1380-kg car is moving due east with an initial speed of 27.0 m/s. After 8.00 s, the car has slowed down to 17.0 m/s. Find the magnitude and direction of the net force that produces the deceleration.
Force of GRAVITY A ball is dropped from the top of a building. Find the force of gravity on the ball in terms of the mass of the object m and the acceleration of gravity g. In general, the force of gravity on any object can be calculated with the formula Fg = mg
So what’s so hard about Newton’s Second Law? Thinking question: Is this object moving? If so, in what direction? 20 N
What’s the net force?
Find the net force
Find the unknown forces
Now, use Newton’s 2nd Law: Kate and Rob exert a 2.45 N rightward force on a 0.500-kg cart to accelerate it across a low- friction track. If the total resistance force to the motion of the cart is 0.72 N, then what is the cart's acceleration?
A 200kg crate is being lifted by a steel cable. If the crate is being lifted at a constant velocity of 2 m/s, what is the tension in the cable? If the crate is being lifted with an acceleration of 3 m/s2 then what is the tension in the cable? If the crate is now being lowered with an acceleration of 1 m/s2 what is the tension now?
Another example In a Physics lab, Ernesto and Amanda apply a 34.5 N rightward force to a 4.52-kg cart to accelerate it across a horizontal surface at a rate of 1.28 m/s2. Determine the friction force acting upon the cart.
The parachute on a race car that weighs 8820N opens at the end of a quarter-mile run when the car is traveling 35 m/s. What total retarding force must be supplied by the parachute to stop the car in a distance of 1100m?