Dynamic Forces & Newton's Laws
I. What are Dynamic Forces?
Dynamic forces are simply forces that cause a change in an object's motion (its acceleration). Think of them
as pushes or pulls that get things moving, stop them, or change their direction.
II. Key Terms to Know
Force (F): A push or pull. It has a strength (magnitude) and a direction. Measured in Newtons (N).
Mass (m): How much "stuff" is in an object. It's a measure of an object's resistance to changing its
motion (its inertia). Measured in kilograms (kg).
Acceleration (a): The rate at which an object's velocity changes. This means speeding up, slowing
down, or changing direction. Measured in meters per second squared (m/s²).
Inertia: An object's tendency to resist changes in its motion. An object at rest wants to stay at rest; an
object in motion wants to stay in motion.
Net Force (Fnet): The total push or pull on an object, considering all forces and their directions. This is
the force that actually causes acceleration.
Equilibrium: When the net force is zero (Fnet=0). The object is either staying still or moving at a
constant speed in a straight line.
III. Newton's Three Laws of Motion
These laws are the foundation for understanding how forces affect motion.
1. Newton's First Law: The Law of Inertia (The "Lazy" Law) 😴
What it says: An object won't change its motion unless a net force acts on it. If it's sitting still, it'll stay
still. If it's moving, it'll keep moving at the same speed and in the same direction.
Think of it: Things like to keep doing what they're already doing unless something pushes or pulls
them.
2. Newton's Second Law: The Law of Acceleration (The
F=ma
Law) 💪
What it says: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and
inversely proportional to its mass. The acceleration always goes in the same direction as the net force.
The Formula:
Fnet=ma
o Fnet = Net force (Newtons)
o m = Mass (kilograms)
o a = Acceleration (meters per second squared)
Think of it:
o A bigger push (Fnet) on something means it will speed up more (a).
o A heavier object (m) will speed up less (a) with the same push.
3. Newton's Third Law: The Law of Action-Reaction (The "Push Back" Law) 🤝
What it says: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Think of it: If you push on something, it pushes back on you with the exact same strength, but in the
opposite direction. These forces always act on different objects. (For example, you push the wall, the
wall pushes you.)
IV. Common Types of Forces
Gravitational Force (Weight): The force of attraction between objects with mass. On Earth, it's the
pull of Earth on an object, usually acting straight down.
o Formula:
Fg=mg
m = mass
g = acceleration due to gravity (approx. 9.8 m/s² on Earth)
Normal Force (FN): The force a surface exerts perpendicular to itself to support an object. It stops an
object from falling through the surface.
Friction Force (Ff): A force that opposes motion (or attempted motion) between two surfaces in
contact.
o Static Friction (Ffs,max): Prevents an object from moving.
Formula:
Ffs,max=μsFN
μs = coefficient of static friction
o Kinetic Friction (Ffk): Opposes an object that's already moving.
Formula:
Ffk=μkFN
μk = coefficient of kinetic friction
Tension Force (T): The pulling force transmitted through a rope, string, or cable.
V. Problem-Solving Steps for Newton's Second Law
1. Draw a Free-Body Diagram (FBD): Draw your object as a dot and show all the forces acting on it with
arrows, indicating their direction.
2. Choose a Coordinate System: Pick an x-axis and y-axis. It's often easiest if one axis lines up with the
direction the object is accelerating (or would accelerate).
3. Break Forces into Components: If any forces are at an angle, break them down into their x and y parts
using trigonometry (e.g., Fx=Fcosθ, Fy=Fsinθ).
4. Apply Newton's Second Law: Write separate equations for the sum of forces in the x-direction and y-
direction:
o ΣFx=max
o ΣFy=may
5. Solve: Use algebra to find the unknown values.
Simplified Formulas (Quick Reference)
Net Force:
Fnet=ma
* Weight:
W=mg
* Max Static Friction:
Ffs,max=μsFN
* Kinetic Friction:
Ffk=μkFN
