EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena - Lecture 3

Newtons Second Law

F = ma
Things to note: F is the net force (the sum of all the forces) acting on the object

The first law tells us that the motion of an object changes with the application of a net force - but by how much? This is expressed in Newtons Second Law which we will write as The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it. It is in the direction of the net force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.

If there is a net force then there is an acceleration If there is an acceleration then there is a net force Force and acceleration are in the same direction.

EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3

EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3

Examples

Illustrating gravity (1)

Remember A more massive object has a bigger gravitational force on it than a smaller mass - it weighs more But it needs a bigger force to make it accelerate the acceleration that results when you drop them is the same - g = 9.8 m/s2 Hence different masses all fall at the same rate despite having different weights.
EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3 4

The blocks accelerate in the direction of F for as long as the force is applied. They will then continue to move at their final speed so long as no other forces (e.g. friction) are acting
EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3 3

Illustrating gravity (2)

Dropping keys (or throwing them upwards) on a moving train What does the woman on the train see? What do we see (on the platform)? Why?

Newtons Third Law

Yet another law! To every action there is always an equal an opposite reaction More precisely: The interaction of two objects always occurs by way of two forces A force of the first object acting on the second, and An equal-magnitude and oppositely directed force of the second object acting on the first
5 EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3

Whats wrong with this diagram?

EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3

EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena - Lecture 3

Standing still

Weight is an external force acting on a person. The Earth pulls on the person and the person pulls on the Earth - an action-reaction pair. The person isnt accelerating up or down, so there must be a force on her to balance the weight force. Her weight causes her feet to push on the ground and so the ground pushes back on her another action-reaction pair. The forces on her are the weight and the reaction of the floor - they are in balance (if the floor is strong enough!)
EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3 7

Pushing off to change direction: The basketballer pushes on the floor The floor pushes up and to the right on the basketball player with a force F R , allowing him to change direction. It has components F f (a friction force keeping his foot from sliding) and FN (the normal force equal to his weight).
EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3 8

Walking and Running

With every stride, we push off the back foot to maintain speed. Why? We push on the ground and the ground pushes back on us (using the frictional force). That force on us propels us forward. Then why dont we accelerate with every step?

Walkers and runners spend about half their time pushing forward on the ground in order to slow down - the fground psuhes back bringing the front foot to rest so the back foot can catch up and move past it.
EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3 10

EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3

Summary

If there is a net force then there is an acceleration If there is an acceleration then there is a net force Forces in balance (no net force) implies no acceleration i.e. the object remains stationary or continues moving with constant velocity NEXT: Floating
EDUF 1017 Physical Phenomena L3 11