10. Newton’s second law
From Mechanics
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First find the resultant force acting on the car. | First find the resultant force acting on the car. | ||
| - | <math> | + | Resultant Force <math>=\text{ }3000-R</math> |
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, | Then apply Newton’s Second Law, | ||
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First find the resultant force acting on the car. | First find the resultant force acting on the car. | ||
| - | <math> | + | Resultant Force <math>=\text{ }5000-2000=3000\text{ N}</math> |
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, | Then apply Newton’s Second Law, | ||
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The resultant force will be directed down the slope, and is found by resolving the forces parallel to the slope. | The resultant force will be directed down the slope, and is found by resolving the forces parallel to the slope. | ||
| - | <math> | + | Resultant Force <math>=11760\sin 3{}^\circ -400</math> |
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, | Then apply Newton’s Second Law, | ||
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Now resolving horizontally, the resultant force can be found. | Now resolving horizontally, the resultant force can be found. | ||
| + | Resultant Force | ||
| + | |||
<math>\begin{align} | <math>\begin{align} | ||
| - | & | + | & =20\cos 30{}^\circ -F \\ |
& =20\cos 30{}^\circ -(5\textrm{.}88-4\sin 30{}^\circ ) \\ | & =20\cos 30{}^\circ -(5\textrm{.}88-4\sin 30{}^\circ ) \\ | ||
& =20\cos 30{}^\circ -5\textrm{.}88+4\sin 30{}^\circ | & =20\cos 30{}^\circ -5\textrm{.}88+4\sin 30{}^\circ | ||
Revision as of 18:53, 16 February 2010
| Theory | Exercises |
Key Points
Newton's Second Law
If the resultant force on a particle is not zero, then it will accelerate.
\displaystyle F=ma
\displaystyle \mathbf{F}=m\mathbf{a}
A lift and its passengers have a total mass of 300 kg. Find the tension in the lift cable if;
a) it accelerates upwards at 0.2 \displaystyle \text{m}{{\text{s}}^{-2}},
b) it accelerates downwards at 0.05 \displaystyle \text{m}{{\text{s}}^{-2}}.
Solution
The lift and its passengers have been modelled as a single particle.
The diagram shows the forces acting on the lift.
Assume that the lift is accelerating upwards as indicated in the diagram.
Consider the resultant force on the particle, taking the upward direction as positive.
Resultant Force \displaystyle =T-2940
Applying Newton’s second law gives:
\displaystyle \begin{align} & 300a=T-2940 \\ & T=2940+300a \\ \end{align}
a) If \displaystyle a=0\textrm{.}2 , then \displaystyle T=2940+300\times 0\textrm{.}2=3000\text{ N} .
b) If \displaystyle a=-0\textrm{.}05 (since the lift is accelerating downwards then:
\displaystyle T=2940+300\times (-0\textrm{.}05)=2925\text{ N} .
A car accelerates at 1.8 \displaystyle \text{m}{{\text{s}}^{-2}} along a straight horizontal road. The mass of the car is 1200 kg. A forward force of magnitude 3000 N acts on the car. Find the magnitude of the resistance force that also acts on the car.
Solution
The diagram shows the horizontal forces that are acting on the car, which has been modelled as a particle. The acceleration has also been included.
First find the resultant force acting on the car.
Resultant Force \displaystyle =\text{ }3000-R
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, \displaystyle F=ma , to give:
\displaystyle \begin{align} & 3000-R=1200\times 1\textrm{.}8 \\ & R=3000-2160 \\ & =840\text{ N} \end{align}
The resistance force has magnitude 840 N.
A van has mass 2500 kg. A forward force of 5000 N acts on the van and a resistance force of 2000 N also acts. Find the acceleration of the van on a horizontal surface.
Solution
The diagram shows the horizontal forces that are acting on the van, which has been modelled as a particle.
First find the resultant force acting on the car.
Resultant Force \displaystyle =\text{ }5000-2000=3000\text{ N}
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, \displaystyle F=ma , to give:
\displaystyle \begin{align} & 3000=2500a \\ & a=\frac{3000}{2500}=1\textrm{.}2\text{ m}{{\text{s}}^{\text{-2}}} \end{align}
A van, of mass 1200 kg, rolls down a slope, inclined at \displaystyle 3{}^\circ to the horizontal and experiences a resistance force of magnitude 400N. Find the acceleration of the car.
Solution
Model the van as a particle.
The diagram shows the forces acting on the van as it rolls down the slope.
The forces perpendicular to the slope will be in equilibrium.
The resultant force will be directed down the slope, and is found by resolving the forces parallel to the slope.
Resultant Force \displaystyle =11760\sin 3{}^\circ -400
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, \displaystyle F=ma , to give:
\displaystyle \begin{align} & 11760\sin 3{}^\circ -400=1200a \\ & a=\frac{11760\sin 3{}^\circ -400}{1200}=0\textrm{.}180\text{ m}{{\text{s}}^{\text{-2}}}\text{ (to 3 sf)} \\ \end{align}
A block, of mass 3 kg, is pulled across a rough horizontal plane, by a string inclined at \displaystyle 30 ^\circ to the horizontal. The tension in the string is 20 N. The coefficient of friction between the particle and the plane is 0.2. Find the acceleration of the particle.
Solution
Model the crate as a particle.
The diagram shows the forces acting on the crate.
The vertical components of the forces will be in equilibrium.
\displaystyle \begin{align} & R+20\sin 30{}^\circ =29\textrm{.}4 \\ & R=29\textrm{.}4-20\sin 30{}^\circ \\ \end{align}
As we know R, we can calculate F using \displaystyle F=\mu R . This gives:
\displaystyle \begin{align} & F=0.2\times \left( 29\textrm{.}4-20\sin 30{}^\circ \right) \\ & =5\textrm{.}88-4\sin 30{}^\circ \end{align}
Now resolving horizontally, the resultant force can be found.
Resultant Force
\displaystyle \begin{align} & =20\cos 30{}^\circ -F \\ & =20\cos 30{}^\circ -(5\textrm{.}88-4\sin 30{}^\circ ) \\ & =20\cos 30{}^\circ -5\textrm{.}88+4\sin 30{}^\circ \end{align}
Then apply Newton’s Second Law, \displaystyle F=ma , to give:
\displaystyle \begin{align} & 20\cos 30{}^\circ -5\textrm{.}88+4\sin 30{}^\circ =3a \\ & a=\frac{20\cos 30{}^\circ -5.88+4\sin 30{}^\circ }{3}=4\textrm{.}48\text{ m}{{\text{s}}^{\text{-2}}}\text{ (to 3 sf)} \\ \end{align}
