1. Chunk 4
Newton’s Laws of Motion

2. Force is the action which has the ability to change motion.
Objects need a force applied to them in order to change their motion.
A force is also called a push or a pull.
Sir Issac Newton described three Laws that govern motion.

3. Force diagrams: Four forces can act on an object
Fn = normal force.
This is the force that holds atoms together and makes things solid.
Fa= applied force
This is the force that is being applied to the object. It always comes out of the center of mass
Ff= frictional force
This is a force that happens whenever two surfaces touch. This force will always oppose the applied force.
Weight= Fg= Gravitational force
This is the force created because of gravity pulling on the mass of the object.

4. What if forces are balanced? Newton’s First Law of Motion
An object at rest stays at rest or an object in motion stays in motion (constant velocity) unless acted on by an unbalanced (net) force.
It is also known as “the law of inertia”
Inertia: an objects ability to resist a change in motion.
Example: The man pushed the cart in order
to make it roll.
The bigger the cart the
harder the man must push

5. Force is measured in Newtons (N) in the metric system.
1 N = 1 kgm/s2
The English unit for force is a pound (lb).
4.48 N = 1 lb
Forces are vector quantities and can
be denoted with arrows because you
can push in specific direction.

6. What if forces are unbalanced? Newton’s Second Law of Motion
If an unbalanced (net) force is applied to a mass it will accelerate.
The mathematical relationship between acceleration and mass is directly proportional and inversely proportional to force. A math formula can be written:
F = m a
F = force
m = mass
a = acceleration
What is mass?
The amount of stuff (atoms) in an object

7. You try!
Example: The man pushed the cart with 10 N of force to make it accelerate 20 m/s2. What was the mass of the cart? See if you can calculate the mass.
F =
a =
m =
10 N
m = F a
20 m/s2
m = 10 N (kgm/s2)
20 m/s2
= 0.5 kg ? F m a

8. What if forces are unbalanced?
Tracker A is pulling on the 10 kg block with a force of 50 N and tracker B is pulling on the block with 20 N. How fast is the block accelerating and in what direction?
F =
m =
a =
30 N
Remember your vector rules
10 kg
Net Force= 50 N – 20 N= 30 N ?
a = F m
= 30N
10kg
= 3 m/s2

9. Remember what happens if all four forces are balanced?Fn Ff Fg Fa
The object is standing still or moving at a constant velocity!

10. Weight and Gravity
Gravity is the rate at which all things fall to the earth.
It is always 9.8 m/s2
Weight is a measure of how gravity pulls on your mass to create a downward force.
Your weight can be calculated just like any other force is calculated. Fw= weight
m = mass
g = gravity
Notice that gravity is an acceleration value
Fw= mg
g = 9.8 m/s2
Air resistance is friction for falling objects. Air resistance is why it seems like things fall at different rates.
All things fall at this rate no matter what their size!!!!

11. Weight vs. Mass
Your mass is constant because it is a measure of the amount of atoms in your body.
Your weight will change if the gravity of the planet changes.
Since Mars is a smaller planet, it will have a smaller gravity and pull down on a mass with less force.

12. Forces come in pairs Newton’s Third Law of Motion
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
These forces always occur in pairs and are often called action-reaction forces.
Remember; if forces are equal, what is happening to the object?
They are standing still or moving at constant velocity.
Action:
The boy threw the ball forward with a certain amount of force
Reaction:
The boy rolled backward with the same amount of force