Sunday, November 4, 2012

Newton's Second Law of Motion


  • F= ma (Force = mass * acceleration)
  • A force is defined as a pushed or pull
  • In the metric system, force is measured in Newtons (N).
  • A newton is approximately equal to 1/4 lb (pound)
  • In physics, mass is usually measured in kilograms
  • Acceleration is measured in m/s^2
Example 1: A rocket of mas 1750 kg fires it engines in spaces. The engine exert of force of 4500 N. 
     a) At what rate will the rocket accelerate?

     F = ma => 4500 N = 1750 kg * a, solve for a,
     a = 4500/1750 = 2.57 N/g = 2.57 m/s^2

     b) How fast will the rocket be moving at the end of 25 s?
     
     Sf = si + at => Sf= 0 + (2.57 m/s^2) (25s) = 64.25 m/s

Example 2: Two forces act on a box. One force is 500 N and acts to the right. The second force is 840 N, and act to the left.

      a) What is the net force acting on the box?

     Fnet = Fa - Ff  = 840 -500 = 340 N left

    b) If the box mass is 120 kg, at what rate does it accelerate?

     F = ma => 340 N = (120 kg) a, a = 2.83 N/kg  or m/s^2


Weight:
  • Weight refers to the force of gravity acting on an object
  • The formula for calculating the weight of an object is a variation of Newton's 2nd Law.
  • W= mg (Weight = mass * gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s^2))
  • Remember, mass is the amount of matter contained within an object. If you shoot a heavy object into space. Its weight will disappear, but its mass will be unchanged.
Example 1: An object has a mass of 320 kg. How much does this object weight?
     
     W = mg = 320 kg (9.8 m/s^2) = 3136 N

Example 2: A man weight 850 N. What is his mass?

     W = mg => 850 N = m (9.8 m/s^2), m = 86.7 kg

Example 3
 a) A man stands on a scale in an elevator. The elevator is not moving. The man's mass is 75 kg. What is the reading on the scale?
     W = mg = 75(9.8) = 735 N

b) If the elevator beginning to move upward 2 m/s^2. What is the reading on the scale now?

     F = ma = 75 kg ( 2 m/s^2) = 150 N
     Fnet = 735 N + 150 N = 885 N

c) The elevator come to stop and then start accelerating downward at 3 m/s^2. What is the reading on the scale now?

     F = ma = 75 (3) = 225 N
     Fnet = 735 - 225 = 510N

     

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