MEC102

Module 5 : Newton’s
Second Law
Course Outcomes
 CO1. Explain and use the principles governing
motion of particles.
 CO2. Apply the concepts of kinematics of
particles to compute positions, velocities, and
accelerations of rigid bodies.
 CO3: Explain Newton’s second law of motion and
apply its principle to solve problems involving
kinetics of a particle, its energy and
momentum.
 
OBJECTIVES
 At the end of the lesson, you should be able
to:
 solve rectilinear motion problems using
Newton’s second law of motion.
DYNAMICS
 Dynamics includes:
 Kinematics: study of the geometry of
motion. Kinematics is used to relate
displacement, velocity, acceleration, and
time without reference to the cause of
motion.
 Kinetics: study of the relations existing
between the forces acting on a body, the
mass of the body, and the motion of the
body. Kinetics is used to predict the motion
caused by given forces or to determine the
forces required to produce a given motion.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 NEWTON’S LAW OF MOTION
1. A particle acted upon by a balanced force system
has no acceleration.
2. A particle acted upon by an unbalanced force
system has an acceleration in line with and
directly proportional to the resultant of the
force system.
3. Action and reaction forces between two particles
are always equal and oppositely directed.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Newton’s first and third laws are sufficient for
the study of bodies at rest (statics) or bodies in
motion with no acceleration.
 When a body accelerates (changes in velocity
magnitude or direction), Newton’s second law is
required to relate the motion of the body to the
forces acting on it.
 Stating Newton’s Second Law
Newton’s second law of motion: If a net external
force acts on a body, the body accelerates. The
direction of acceleration is the same as the direction
of the net force. The mass of the body times the
acceleration of the bodyequals  the net force vector.
F  ma
Acceleration of a body is equal to the net force acting
on the body divided by the body’s mass:

 F
a
m
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Systems of Units:
 Of the units for the four primary dimensions
(force, mass, length, and time), three may be
chosen arbitrarily. The fourth must be compatible
with Newton’s 2nd Law.

• International System of Units (SI Units): base units

are the units of length (m), mass (kg), and time
(second). The unit of force is derived,
m kg

m
1
N1
kg1
2

1 2
s s
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Systems of Units:
 Of the units for the four primary dimensions
(force, mass, length, and time), three may be
chosen arbitrarily. The fourth must be compatible
with Newton’s 2nd Law.

• U.S. Customary Units: base units are the units of force

(lb), length (ft), and time (second). The unit of mass is
derived,
2
1 lb 1lb lbs
1 lbm  21 slug2  1
32.2 fts 1fts ft
12 - 9
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Equations of Motion:  
 Newton’s second law provides  F  ma

• Solution for particle motion is facilitated by resolving

vector equation into scalar component equations, e.g.,
for rectangular components,
     
 F xi Fy j F k
z m ax i a yj azk 

Fx x
maFy y
maFzma
z

Fx 
m

x Fy 
m

y Fzm
z


Using Newton’s First Law when forces are not in equilibrium

Identify:
relevant concepts: Newton’s 2nd law, Kinematic Equations
target variables: acceleration, forces, velocity, etc.

Set-up:
1)Sketch the situation
2)Draw the free-body diagram
3)Label each force with magnitude.
4)Choose coordinate axes. Identify  of motion.
 thedirection 
5)Use Newton's second law.F  ma Fx  ma x
x x

6) Use the applicable kinematics equation.

DYNAMICS
 UNIFORM ACCELERATION:

V  V0  a t
Where : V  velocity at any given time
V0  initial velocity
1 2
S  V0 t  a t a  acceleration
2 t  time elapsed
S  position
V 2  V02  2 a S
Friction (Kinetic versus Static
Friction)
Ex5.6 Straight line motion with a constant force
1. An iceboat is at rest on
Setup: the situation
a perfectly frictionless
horizontal surface. A wind
blowing (along the direction
of the runners) so that 4.0 s
after the boat is released,
it attains velocity of 6.0
m/s. What constant
horizontal force Fw does the
wind exert on the iceboat?
The mass of the iceboat and
rider is 200 kg.
Identify: Accelerating body! 
Target variable: FW
 2. Suppose a constant horizontal friction Setup: the situation
force with magnitude 100 N opposes the
motion of the iceboat in Example 5.6. In
this case, what constant force Fw must the
wind exert on the iceboat to cause the
same constant x-acceleration
ax = 1.5 m/s2?

Identify: Accelerating body! 

Target variable: FW
 3. An elevator and its load have a total Setup: the situation
mass of 800 kg. The elevator is originally
moving downward at 10.0 m/s; it slows to a
stop with constant acceleration in a
distance of 25.0 m. Find the tension T in
the supporting cable while the elevator is
being brought to rest.

Identify: Accelerating body! 

Target variable: T
4. A 50.0-kg woman stands on a bathroom Setup: the situation
scale while riding in the elevator in
Example 5.8. What is the reading on the
scale?

Identify: Accelerating body! 

The scale reads the magnitude of the
Target variable: n
downward force exerted by the woman on
the scale. By Newton's third law, this
equals the magnitude of the upward normal
force exerted by the scale on the woman.
The scale reading is called the passenger's
apparent weight.
 Apparent weight in an accelerating
Setup:
Execute:
elevator

Evaluate:
The woman feels the floor pushing up
harder on her feet than when the
elevator is stationary or moving with
constant velocity. This apparent weight
is similar for an elevator moving
upward with increasing speed.
5. What would the woman feel if the Setup: the situation
elevator were accelerating downward
so that ay = 2.00m/s2?

Identify: Accelerating body! 

Target variable: n
 Apparent weight in an accelerating
Setup:
Execute:
elevator

Evaluate:
Now the woman feels as though she
weighs only 390 N, or 100 N less than
her actual weight. 
6. The figure shows an air-track glider with
mass m1, moving on a level, frictionless air
track in the physics lab. The glider is
connected to a lab weight with mass m2 by
a light, flexible, non-stretching string that Setup: the situation
passes over a small frictionless pulley. Find
the acceleration of each body and the
tension in the string.

Identify: Accelerating body! 

Target variable: a and T
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 A 200-lb block rests on a horizontal plane. Find
the magnitude of the force P required to give the
block an acceleration of 10 ft/s2 to the right. The
coefficient of kinetic friction between the block
and plane is mk = 0.25.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Resolve the equation of motion for the block into
two rectangular component equations.
 Unknowns consist of the applied force P and the
normal reaction N from the plane. The two
equations may be solved for these unknowns.
W 200 lb lb  s 2
m  2
 6.21
g 32.2 ft s ft
F   k N  0.25 N


Fxma
:
P
cos
30

0
.
25
N
6
.21
lb

s2
ft2
10
ft
s   

62
.
1lb
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:


Fy
0:
N

P
sin
30

20
lb

0

N

Psin
30

200
lb
P
cos
30

0
.P
25sin
30

 
200
lb
62
.
1
lb
P
151
lb
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 The two blocks shown start from rest. The
horizontal plane and the pulley are frictionless, and
the pulley is assumed to be of negligible mass.
Determine the acceleration of each block and the
tension in the cord.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Write the kinematic relationships for the
dependent motions and accelerations of the blocks.
 Write the equations of motion for the blocks and
pulley.
 Combine the kinematic relationships with the
equations of motion to solve for the accelerations
and cord tension.

y B  12 x A a B  12 a A
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:

• Write equations of motion for blocks and pulley.


F
x
m a
A
A:
T
1100
a
kgA


F
ym
a
B:
B

m
Bg
T2m
Ba
B
3009
kg .
81m 2
s
T2300
a
kgB
T22940
N 300
- a
kgB
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:


F
y
ma
C
C
0:
T
2
2T
1
0

T2  2T1  0
2940 N  150 kg a A  2100 kg a A  0

a A  8.40 m s 2
a B  12 a A  4.20 m s 2
T1  100 kg a A  840 N
T2  2T1  1680 N
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 Determine the force P that will give the body an
acceleration of 1.8 m/sec2. The coefficient of
kinetic friction is 0.20. Then determine the
distance travelled and the velocity of the block in
5 sec.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 The block shown reaches a velocity of 12 m/sec in
30 m. starting from rest. Compute the coefficient
of kinetic friction between the block and the
ground.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 An automobile weighing 4000 lb is driven down a 5o
incline at a speed of 60 mi/h when the brakes are
applied causing a constant total breaking force of
1500 lb. Determine the distance traveled by the
automobile as it comes to a stop.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Determine the deceleration of the car.
 Determine the distance travelled by the car.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Determine the deceleration of the car.

 Fx  ma
 4000 
4000 sin 5  1500   a
 32.2 

ft
a  9.2686
s2
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Determine the distance travelled by the car.

 mi  5280 ft  h 
v1   60     88 ft s
 h  mi  3600 s 

v f 2  v1 2  2ax
0 2  88 2  2 9.2686x

x  418 ft
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 A 40 kg package is at rest on an incline when a
force P is applied on it. Determine the magnitude
of P if 4 seconds is required for the package to
move 10 m up the incline. The kinetic coefficient
of friction between the package and the incline is
0.25.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Determine the acceleration of the car.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Determine the normal force N and force P.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 Consider a block of mass 4kg propelled with an
initial velocity of 5m/s up an inclined plane of . If
the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.5 between
the particle and the incline surface, determine the
time it will take for the block to stop.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 Two blocks A and B are released from rest on a
30° incline when they are 24 m apart, as shown.
The coefficient of friction under the upper block
A is 0.25, and that under the lower block B is 0.35.
Compute the elapsed time until the blocks touch
each other.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 The two blocks shown are originally at rest.
Neglecting the masses of the pulleys and the
effect of friction in the pulleys and between the
blocks and the incline, determine (a) the
acceleration of each block, (b) the tension in the
cable.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Let the positive direction be down the incline.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Eliminate T and solve for
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 The weights of blocks A, B, and C are ,
and . Knowing that P=50lb and neglecting the
masses of the pulleys and the effect of friction,
determine (a) the acceleration of each block, (b)
the tension in the cable.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Let the positive direction be to the right.
 Let the origin lie on the fixed anchor.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Using Second Law for the three blocks.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Substitution
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 The two blocks shown are originally at rest.
Neglecting the masses of the pulleys and the
effect of friction in the pulleys and assuming that
the coefficient of friction between both blocks
and the incline are and , determine (a) the
acceleration of each block, (b) the tension in the
cable.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 The coefficients of friction between the three
blocks and the horizontal surface are and . The
weights of blocks are , and . Knowing
that the blocks are initially at rest and that C
moves to the right through 0.73 m in 0.4 s,
determine (a) the acceleration of each block, (b)
the tension in the cable, (c) the force P.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 For tangential and normal components:

 F t  ma t  F n  ma n
dv v2
 F t  m dt Fn  m 
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 The bob of a 2-m pendulum describes an arc of a
circle in a vertical plane. If the tension in the cord
is 2.5 times the weight of the bob for the position
shown, find the velocity and acceleration of the
bob in that position.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 Resolve the equation of motion for the bob into
tangential and normal components.
 Solve the component equations for the normal and
tangential accelerations.
 Solve for the velocity in terms of the normal
acceleration.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:

 Ft  ma t :
mg sin 30  ma t
at  g sin 30

2
at  4.9 m s
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:

 Fn  ma n :
2.5mg  mg cos 30  ma n
an  g 2.5  cos 30 

an  16.03 m s 2

an 
v2
v  a n  2 m 16.03 m s2 


v  5.66 m s
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Example:
 Determine the rated speed of a highway curve of
radius r = 400 ft banked through an angle q = 18o.
The rated speed of a banked highway curve is the
speed at which a car should travel if no lateral
friction force is to be exerted at its wheels..
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
 The car travels in a horizontal circular path with a
normal component of acceleration directed toward
the center of the path. The forces acting on the
car are its weight and a normal reaction from the
road surface.
 Resolve the equation of motion for the car into
vertical and normal components.
 Solve for the vehicle speed.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:

 Fy  0 :  Fn  ma n :
W
R cos  W  0 R sin  an
g
W
R
cos
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:

W v 2  g tan
R sin  an
g  
 32.2 ft s 2 400 ft tan 18
W W v2
sin 
cos g  v  64.7 ft s  44.1 mi h
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Exercise:
 During a hammer thrower’s practice swing, the 16
lb head of the hammer revolves at a constant
speed in a horizontal circle. If ρ = 3ft and θ = 60° ,
determine (a) the tension in wire BC, (b) the speed
of the hammer’s head.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 Answer:
RESOURCES
 RESOURCES:
 Beer, Ferdinand P. and E. Russell Johnston Jr.
(2007). Vector Mechanics for Engineers:
Statics 8e. New York: The McGraw-Hill Co
PREPARATION FOR THE COURSE