<Chap.

5 Using Newton’s Laws: Suggested Problems and Solutions>

5.43, 5.54, 5.66, 5,69, 5.74

5.43

Apply Newton’s second law to each mass. The table is frictionless, thus the only force acting on
m1 in the horizontal plane is the tension. The tension T acting on each mass is of the same
magnitude. Since m 2 does not accelerate, the tension must cancel the force due to gravity acting
on m 2.
2 2
m1 v m1 v
m1 : F net=T =m1 a1= ⟹T=
R R
m2 : F net=T −m2 g=m2 a2=0⟹ T =m2 g

(a) T =m 2 g

(b) By combining the equation (a) and the above equation for m 1,

v=
√ √
RT
m1
=
m2
m1
gR

Let τ =2 πR /v be the period of the circular motion.

τ=
2 πR
v
=2 π
√
m1 R
m2 g

5.54

F g, normal force n⃗ , and static friction ⃗f s.

The forces acting on the bug are gravity ⃗

Using Newton’s second law, the force equation for the bug is ⃗ F g+ ⃗n + ⃗f s=m ⃗a.
F net= ⃗

Assuming the bulk walks at a speed that is much less than the tangential speed of the CD, we can
assume uniform circular motion. Then we can use Equation 5.1 a=v 2 /r .
2
mv
x : f s=
r
y : n=mg
The force due to static friction is f s ≤ μ s n , and the speed of the disc as a function of the bug’s
radial position r and the frequency of revolution ϕ is v=2 πrϕ .
2
mv
=f s ≤ μ s n
r
 2
m ( 2 πrϕ )
≤ μ s mg
r

1.2 ( 9.8 m/ s2 )
( )
μs g 60 s
2
r≤ 2 2
= 2
=0 .027 m
4 π ϕ 4 π 2 ( 200 min−1 ) 1min

5.66

Your speed can be determined by assuming uniform circular motion through the turn. The forces
acting on the car are gravity ⃗
F g, normal force n⃗ , and friction parallel to the road and
perpendicular to the car’s motion.

x : n sin θ+ f s cos θ=m v 2 /R

y : n cos θ−f s sin θ−F g =0

Using f s=μ s n,

sin θ+ μ s cos θ v 2
=
cos θ−μ s sin θ gR
2
gR ( tanθ+ μ s )=v ( 1−μs tanθ )

In Example 5.6, the angle of the bank of radius R designed for speed v 0, is described by
2
v0
tanθ=
gR
2 2
v −v 0
μs = 2 2
v v0
gR+
gR

5.69

The forces acting on the car are the force due to gravity ⃗
F g=m⃗g and the force due to static
friction.

For the braking option, Newton’s second law applied to the car gives
 x : −f s=ma
y : n−mg=0
Using equation f s=μ s n,

a=−μ s g

For the swerve option,

x : f s=mv 20 /r

y : n−mg=0
2
μs g=v 0 /r
2 2
Use the equation 2.11 v =v 0 +2 a( x−x 0).

For the braking option, the stopping distance is

2 2
0=v =v 0 +2 a ( x−x 0 )
2 2
−v 0 v0
x−x 0= =
2 a 2 μs g

For the swerving option, the turning radius is

2
v0
r=
μs g

Thus, the turning radius is greater than the stopping distance.

5.74

Choose a coordinate system in which the x-axis points up the slope so that the block is initially
moving in the +x direction. Applying newton’s law to the block going up the incline gives

x : −mg sin θ−f k =ma

y : n−mg cos θ=0
Using equation f k =μk n,

a=−g sin θ−μ k g cos θ

2 2
(a) Using equation 2.11 v =v 0 +2 a( x−x 0),

2 2
−v 0 v0
d= =
a g ( sin θ+ μ k cos θ )

(b) Take the derivative of the above equation.

 d −v 20
[ d ]= 2
(cos θ−μ k sin θ)
dθ g ( sin θ+ μ k cos θ )

The derivative equals zero when cos θ=μk sin θ. The minimum distance is
2
v0
d=
g √ 1+ μ k
2