Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction

l F z = maz
Case I : Free body diagram of connected bodies on a
horizontal smooth surface.
Situation: Two blocks of masses mi and m2 are
connected by a massless string (shown in figure).
m2
m
i m2
m
i
Syllabus: Force and inertia, Newton's laws of motion, conservation of linear momentum, inertial frames of references, static and kinetic
friction, laws of friction, rolling friction.
Review of Concepts
1. Concept of Force and net Force : Force is familiar
word in science. From your own experience, you know that
forces can produce changes in motion. If a force is applied to
a stationary body, the body comes in motion. It can speed up
and slow down a moving body or change the direction of its
motion. In nut shell, the force is cause of change in velocity
of the body. In other words, force is the cause of acceleration
of the body.
If a number of forces act on a body, the net or resultant
force on the body is vector sum of all forces.
Newton's second law gives a good relation between net
force and acceleration of body.
According to Newton's second law of motion,
i F = m a
If the resultant force on the body is zero, body remains
either in rest or moves with constant velocity. A non-zero net
force is referred to as an unbalanced force. Unbalanced force
is cause of acceleration of the body.
2. Newton's Second Law: The resultant force on a
body is equal to product of mass and acceleration of the
body. The direction of acceleration is same as the direction of
resultant force. Mathematically,
Solution : Draw force diagram of each block :
N, No
nig m2
m2 g
Force di agram
of m2
T
F = m a
- N,
T
m.

< r
mi 9
m2 g
Free body
di agram of m2
A Ni
Here, F = net force on the body
m = mass of the body
acceleration of the body
Application of methods using Newton's second law of
motion :
Concentrate your mind on the body which is
considered by you.
Make a separate sketch for the considered body.
Show all forces acting on the body.
Reduce the considered body to a single point (point
mass) and redraw the forces acting on the body,
such that tails of all force vectors are on the point
mass. This is known as free body diagram.
Choose a co-ordinate system for the problem whose
origin is at the point mass.
Find X Fx, X Fy and X Fz.
Write Newton's second law for each of the
co-ordinate system.
i.e., X Fx = max, X Fy = may
F
Force di agram
of m.
ig
Free body
di agram of m-.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
Case II: Choose co-ordinate system and apply
Newton's second l aw:
For m2 : XFy = N2 - m2 g
y
Since, both bodies move in
horizontal direction (along x-axis), x'
hence, y-component of acceleration of
both blocks should be zero.
ay = 0 "
X Fy = may
N2 - m2g = mx 0 = 0
N2 = m2g
Also, Y.FX = F -T = m2a2x
F -T = m2a2x ...(i)
Similarly for m\,
71- Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
!Fy = 0
N1-m1g = 0
N1 = mlg
and X Fx = mi al x
T = m1 a l x
Since, the length of string remains constant,
a
lx =
a
2x =
a
F-T= m2a
and T = mifl
From equations (iii) and (iv)
or F - m^a = m2a
F
...(ii)
...(iii)
...(iv)
a = -
nti + m2
Also, T = m-[a = -
m{F
mi
+ m
2
Alternative met hod: Since, the accelerations of both
blocks are same, so, they are taken as a system.
n N
m-i + m2
( m, + m2 ) g
From the force diagram (shown in figure),
N = (mi + mi) g
and F = (mi + m2) a
F
a =
mi + m2
3. Newton' s Third Law of Motion : Newton's third law
of motion is often called the law of "action and reaction". For
a simple introduction to the third law, consider the forces
involved in kicking a ball by foot. If you kick a ball by your
foot, the pain you feel is due to the force that the ball exerts
on your foot.
From this point of view, it is obvious that a force acting
on a body
:
s always the result of its interaction with another
body.
The direction of force which exerts by you on the ball is in
the opposite direction to the force that ball exerts on your foot.
This type of pair of forces is known as action-reaction pair. If
you kick forcely the ball, you feel more pain. This is due to
increase in the force which is exerted by ball on your foot.
It means, when action force increases, reaction force also
increases. It shows that whenever two bodies interact, then
two forces (action and reaction) that they exert on each other
are always equal in magnitude and opposie in direction.
Statement of Newton's third l aw: "If a force is exerted
on block A by block B, then a force is also exerted on block
B by block A."
These forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in
direction.
4. Different Types of Forces in Nature :
(1) '
-o
(2)
(a) Gravitational force : The force of attraction between
bodies by virtue of their masses is known as
gravitational force.
Let two blocks of masses m\ and m2 are separated by
a distance r.
The force on block 1 by block 2 is F12 acting towards
m2 along line joining wij and m2. Similarly, the force
on block 2 by block 1 is F2 j acting towards mj along
line joining m2 and mj (as shown in figure)
From the concept of Newton' s third law,
F12 = - F21
In the sense of magnitude,
Gwi1ot2
f 12 = F21 = F = 2
r
Here G = gravitational constant = 6.7 x 1CT
11
NmVkg
2
(b) Weight of body (mg): It is defined as the force by
which earth attracts a body towards its centre. If
body is situated either on the surface of earth or near
the surface of earth, then gravitational acceleration is
nearly constant and is equal to
g = 9.8 m/s
2
. The force of
gravity (weight) on a block of
mass m is w = mg acting
towards centre of earth
(shown in figure)
(c) Electromagnetic force
I
r n
mg
T
Electrical
force
Magnetic
force
Force of
tension
Spring
force
Normal
reaction
Force of
friction
Viscous
force
Buoyancy
force
Coulomb
force
Electrical force
in electrical field
72- Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
(A) Electrical force :
(i) Coulomb force or force of electrostatic interaction
between charges : The force of interaction between
two particles by virtue of their charges is known as
electrostatic force of interaction. The force of
electrostatic interaction takes place along the line
joining the charges.
Some Important Poi nts:
(i) Like point charges repel each other.
(a)
- q2
F=-
F*
12
(b)
-92
l `
(ii)
Unlike point charges attract each other.
, F12 ?
posi ti ve
char ge
F21
negat i ve
char ge
F,2
=
~~ F12
(iii) The magnitude of force of electrostatic interaction is
<M2
f 12 - F 2 \ - F -
4Kq r
Here :
AneQ
= 9 x 10
9
N m
2
/ C
2
(ii) Electrical force in an electric field : If a charged
par tide A of charge q is placed in a region where an electric
field E created by other charges is present, the particle A
>
experiences an electric force F = q~E. The electric force on
positive charge is in the direction of electric field. But the
electric force on negative charge is in opposite direction of
electric field (shown in figure).
E.
F = qE
1 I sol ated
posi ti ve char ge
- >
F = q E - *

I sol at ed
negat i ve char ge
(B)^Magnetic force on a moving charge in an magnetic
field B : The magnetic force an a charged particle of charge
q is given by F = qv*< B.
(C) Normal reaction force: If two blocks come in
contact, they exert force on each other. The component of
contact force perpendicular to the surface of contact is
generally known as normal reaction.
For a simple introduction to the normal reaction force,
consider a situation in whch you put a book on your head
and continue your stationary position. In this case, the pain
you feel is due to the force that the book exerts on your head.

In the language of physics, the book exerts a force on your
head normal to the surface of contact in downward direction.
According to Newton's third law of motion, the head exerts
a force of same magnitude on the book normal to the surface
of contact in upward direction.
These forces are known as normal reaction forces.
Normal reaction forces in different situations :
(i)
u N
l uui umumm
i i N
Di recti on of nor mal
react i on on
t he block
Di rect i on of nor mal
react i on
on surf ace
rvrmTTTTTrrrrrmrvi
I ncl i ned pl ane Di rect i on of normal
react i on on t he block
S i
N
i
r VTTTTTTTTTTTTTV
rN
r r r r r r r m
Nor mal react i on on
hori zont al sur f ace
Di recti on of nor mal react i on
on t he i ncl i ned pl ane
The number of normal reaction pairs is equal to number
of contact surfaces.
(iii)
M2
B
A
M
I
j
' Nb
r r r r r n
m r
NA
r
TTT1
NA
The normal reaction on upper block is in upward direction
and normal reaction on lower block is in downward
direction.
(iv)
wal l
< N1
|N2
ummiimmiim
73- Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
(v)
(vii)
(D) Spring force : Coiled metallic wire is known as
spring. The distance between two successive coillsions in a
spring remains the same. If a spring is placed on a smooth
surface, the length between ends of spring is known natural
length (shown in figure).
'OOOOOOO'OW
H
As you may have discovered itself, springs resist
attempts to change their length. If the length of spring is
greater than its natural length, the spring is in the condition
of elongation (shown in figure ahead). If the length of spring
is lesser than its natural length, the spring is in the condition
of compression (shown in figure ahead). In fact, the more you
alter a spring's length, the harder it resists. From this point
of view, spring force increases, when elongation or
compression increases.
For small elongation or compression of spring, spring
force is proportional to its elongation or compression.
i.e., F x
F = kx
where k is proportionality constant known as spring
constant or stiffness constant. Its unit is N/m. The
direction of spring force is always towards the natural length
of spring.
'mWOOQ-
- L + x | - L - x
Spri ng in natural
length
(a)
H
Spring in the condition Spri ng in the condition
of el ongati on of compressi on
(b) (c)
F = 0
No spring force
on body

- L + x |
F = kx
m
Spri ng force on the
body is leftward
(e)
F = kx - > -
njavmoir
Spri ng force on the
body is rightward
(f)
5. Combination of Springs :
(i) Springs in series :
I = J L + J L + J L
k~ ki k2 k3
where k is equivalent spring constant.
1 1 1
In general, - = _ + _ + . . .
(ii) Springs in parallel:
74-
In general,
(iii)'
k = k1 + k2
k = k-i + k2 + k3 + ...
k = ki + k2
(iv) If spring of spring constant k and length I is cut into
two pieces of length /-[ and l2, then
1
ki =
h+h
1
h
1
h
(v) If spring is massive then the effective mass of

m
u (
spring is ' where trig IS mass of spring.
Massl ess (!HO+M\
M0 ^ k '
J

1
ooodOOO
n
-
k
M ' OOOO'O'OO
v
Massi ve spring
6. String: If a block is pulled by a string, the string is
in the condition of tension (shown in figure)
Bl ock
Q
From microscopic point of view, the electrons and
protons near point A of string exerts forces on electrons and
protons of the block. According to Newton's third law of
motion electrons and protons of the block exerts same
magnitude of force on electrons and protons near point A of
the string. These forces are cause of tension in the string. This
is why, force of tension is an example of electromagnetic
force.
String
r i
Massless string Massive string
(a) Massless string: In the cae of massless string, the
tension, every where remains the same in it.
Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
(b) Massive string: The tension in massive rope varies
point to point.
Some Important Points :
(a) If string, slacks, tension in string becomes zero.
(b) The direction of tension on a body or pulley is
always away from the body or pulley.
The directions of tension in some cases are shown
below:
(i)
rri2
mm
m,
TTTTT unuumu
1
m.
m WW m
String is massl ess
and pul l ey is
light and smoot h
(iv)
Pul l eys are light and
smoot h and string
is massl ess
Spri ng is massl ess
and pulley is
light and smoot h
75- Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
(vi)
(vii)
String is massl ess and
t here is friction bet ween
string and pulley
Ml, Ml, m.
J i h
ITI2
I
I
m
2
String is massl ess I I
and t here is friction bet ween
pulley and string
If m2 tends to move downwards, then
T2 >T1 and T2 = T1e^
a
where (0, = coefficient of friction
a = angle subtended by string at the centre
of pulley
(viii)
String is massl ess and
there is friction bet ween
pulley and string
Di scussi ons:
(i) Momentum = p*= mv*
(ii) Change in momentum is known as
Impulse = p^- = m (v*- u*) = F At
(iii) If mass and velocity both are variable;
dp* dv*
=
-dF
=v
-df
+ m
l f
(iv) If mass of body remains constant
f =ma
where m = mass of body, a^= acceleration of body
(v) Motion of connected bodies.
(a) Unequal masses {m\ > m2) suspended from a
pulley:
(K>
m
2
g

m
i 9
Acceleration = a =
Tension = T =
(ffl! - m2) g
(mi + m2)
f
lmim2
x
mi + m2
(b) Bodies accelerated on a horizontal surface by a
falling body:
+ N
T=m2a
mig-T=mia
Acceleration = a =
Tension = T =
mi
mi + m2

f
wi1m2
N
g
g
mi +m2
\ y
(c) Motion on a smooth inclined plane:
rm2g
T ~ m2g sin 6 = m^
and
a =
T =
r
mi - m2 sin
g
mi + m2
\
mim2 (1 +sin 0)g
(mx + m2)
(vi) Apparent weight of a moving lift:
(a) The weight that we feel is the
normal force and not the actual
weight.
(b) If lift is moving upwards with
constant acceleration a0 :
...(i)
...(ii)
..:(i)
...(ii)
g
N = mg + nta0 = mg
Here apparent weight (i.e., ~N) is greater than the
actual weight (i.e., mg).
(c) If lift is accelerated downwards
with constant acceleration a0 :
N = mg 1 -
o
mg
56- Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
Here apparent weight is lesser than the actual weight.
In this case, if AQ = g (Free fall)
N = 0 (weightlessness)
Some Important Points:
(i) Normal reaction and weight of the body are not
action-reaction pair.
(ii) When F increases, normal reaction shifts from
centre of mass to right. At the time of toppling,
normal reaction acts through point A. Also, the net
force on the body gives acceleration of the centre
of mass.
(iii) The number of _
normal forces acting
is equal to the number
of points or surfaces
in contact.
(iv) If the body is in rest
with respect to the surface, then fr < \isN.
(v) If the body is just in motion, then fr = \isN
(vi) If the body is in motion, then fr = pj-N
(vii) If some bodies have same accelerations, then they
are taken as a system. If they do not move
together, bodies are not taken as a system.
(viii) During walking on ice, it is better to take short
steps.
(ix) The force of friction during pushing is greater
than that of pulling in the same manner.
(x) The mass is measure of inertia of the body.
(xi) It is misconception to say that friction always
opposes the motion of the body. It only opposes
the relative motion between surfaces.
(xii) Monkey climbing a rope :
Case I : When monkey moves up with
constant speed:
In this case, T=mg
where m = mass of the monkey,
T = tension in the rope.
Case I I : When monkey is accelerated
upwards,
T-mg = ma
Case III: When monkey accelerated
downwards,
mg -T=ma
(xiii) Gravitational force: Electromagnetic force:
Strong force : Weak force = 1: 10
3 6
: 10
3 8
: 10
2 5
.
(xiv) If a body is in rest on a rough surface and no
pulling force is applied, then the force of friction
on the body is zero.
(xv) For the equilibrium of a
body on an inclined
plane,
mg sin 6 = \ismg cos 0
ps = tan 6
this case,
0<ps <l
Monkey
(xvi) When two surfaces roll on each other (as in case
of ball bearings), the rolling friction comes into
play.
(xvii) The force acting on m2 is f2 = P2
m
2-
If the system moves with the common acceleration,
then
F - p! (mx + m2) g=(mi+ m2) a
f2 = m2a
M-2
m
2g
= m
2
a
a = \i2g
(xviii) If force is applied on upper block:
f2 = limiting friction between mj and m2 = \i2m2g.
fl = limiting
friction between
the surface and
m1 = \i1(m1 + m2)g
If F >f v then both
blocks move with
different acceleration and the maximum friction
acts between the blocks.
F - f 2 = m2a2
F - P2
m
2&
= m
2
fl
2
N2 = m2g
Ni=N2 + mig
trip
-F
m2g
= (wj + m2) g
/l = PlN!
= pj (mi + m2) g
f l = 2
m
2g
If f2 < fi, then mx remains in rest.
If f2 >/], then mi moves in the direction of f2.
f l ~f\ ~
m
l
a
l
Ni
N,
m.

m
i 9
If F </2, then no relation is found between mx and m2.
i.e., mx and m2 move together.
If F <fi then the system is in rest.
If F > f , the system moves with the common acceleration
a. In this case,
77- Newton's Laws of Motion and Friction
or
F - f x = ( f f i j + m2) a
F ~ Hi (mi + m2) g = (/i + m2) a
(xix) The ratio of masses on an inclined plane : The
coefficient of friction = p.
f
m,
(a) When mj starts moving downwards, then
> sin 0 + p cos 9
m2
(b) When m2 starts moving downwards,
mi
m2
> sin 0 - p cos 0
mx
(c) When no motion takes place,
1
= sin 0.
m2
(xx) Frictional force does not depend upon the area of
contact. The microscopic area of contact is about
10
4
times the actual area of contact.
m>wt>Mr
(xxi) Blocks in contact on an inclined plane:
In this type of problem, find the accelerations of
blocks without contact.
(a) If ai > a2, then both blocks move separately
with respective acceleration Oj and a2.
(b) Ii Ui < o2, then both blocks move together with
a common acceleration a.
In this case, both blocks are treated as a system
of mass (mi + m2)
(mx + m2) g sin 0 - pj m-\g cos 0 - P2W2&
c o s

= (mi +
m
2)
a
(xxii) To solve the problem involving the motion of a
particle, we can use
, T> -tK
F = m (ax 1 + Oy j + az k)
using normal and tangential components, we had
dv ~ mv
2
SFt=m
dT
SF
"
=
~r
where p = the radius of curvature.
(xxiii) In many problems involving the plane motion of
a particle, it is found convenient to use radial and
transverse components. In this method,
(dd*
X Fr = m
dt
2
'
dt
Objective Questions.
Level-1
1. A ship of mass 3 x 10
7
kg initially at rest is pulled by a
force of 5 x 10
4
N through a distance of 3 m. Assume that
the resistance due to water is negligible, the speed of the
ship is : 4.
(a) 1.5 m/s (b) 60 m/s
(c) 0.1 m/s (d) 5 m/s
2. A young man of mass 60 kg stands on the floor of a lift
which is accelerating downwards at 1 m/s
2
then the
reaction of the floor of the lift on the man is:
(Take g = 9.8 m/s
2
)
(a) 528 N (b) 540 N
5
"
(c) 546 N (d) none of these
3. A block of mass M is kept on a smooth inclined plane of
inclination 0. The force exerted by the plane on the block
has a magnitude:
(a)
mg
(b) mg
cos 0
(c) mg tan 0 (d) mg cos 0
A block of mass M is suspended by a string A from the
ceiling and another string B is connected to the bottom
of the block. If B is pulled on steadily :
(a) A breaks earlier than B
(b) B breaks earlier than A
(c) both break simultaneously
(d) not possible to say which one will break earlier
A machine gun fires 10 bullets per second, each of mass
10 g, the speed of each bullet is 20 cm/s, then force of
recoil is :
(a) 200 dyne (b) 2000 dyne
(c) 20 dyne (d) none of these