Newton's Laws Applications Review
Navigate to:
Review Session Home - Topic Listing
Forces in 2 Dimensions - Home || Printable Version || Questions with Links
Answers to Questions: All || #1-12 || #13-21 || #22-30
Part C: Force-Mass-Acceleration Relationships
Use the approximation that g= ~10 m/s2 to fill in the blanks in the following diagrams.
|
13.
Fgrav = m•g = ~800 N
∑Fy = may = (80 kg)•(2.0 m/s/s)
∑Fy = 160 N, down
The Fgrav (down) and the Fair (up) must add up to 160 N, down. Thus, Fair must be smaller than Fgrav by 160 N.
Fair = 640 N
|
14.
Since Fgrav = m•g, m can be calculated to be ~70 kg (m=Fgrav/g).
Since ay = 0 m/s/s, Fnorm must equal Fgrav; so Fnorm = 700 N.
∑Fx = m•ax = (70 kg)•(5.0 m/s/s)
∑Fx = 350 N, left
(Note that the ·Fx direction is always the same as the ax direction.)
With Fapp being the only horizontal force, its value must be 350 N - the same as ·Fx.
|
15.
Fgrav = m•g = ~800 N
Since there are two forces pulling upwards and since the sign is hanging symmetrically, each force must supply an upwards pull equal to one-half the object's weight. So the vert pull (Fy) in each force is 400 N. The following triangle can be set up:

Using trig, we can write:
sin(30 deg.)=(400 N)/Ftens
Solving for Ftens yields 800 N.
|
|
16.
A quick blank is Fgrav: Fgrav = m•g = ~80 N
Now resolve the 60-N force into components using trigonometry and the given angle measure:

Fx = 60 N•cos(30 deg) = 52 N
Fy = 60 N•sin(30 deg) = 30 N
Since the acceleration is horizontal, the sum of the vertical forces must equal 0 N. So Fgrav = Fy + Fnorm.
Therefore Fnorm = Fgrav - Fy = 50 N.
Knowing Fnorm and mu, the Ffrict can be determined:
Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = 0.5*(50 N) = 25 N
Now the horizontal forces can be summed:
∑Fx = Fx + Ffrict = 52 N, right + 25 N, left
∑Fx = 27 N, right
Using Newton's second law, ∑Fx = m•ax
So ax = (27 N)/(8 kg) = 3.4 m/s/s, right (3375... m/s/s)
|
17.
The first step in an inclined plane problem is to resolve the weight vector into parallel and perpendicular components:
Fpar = m•g•sin(angle) = (420 N)•sin(30 deg) = 210 N
Fperp = m•g•cos(angle) = (420 N)•cos(30 deg) = 364 N
The mass can be found as m = Fgrav/g
m = Fgrav/g = (420 N)/(10 m/s/s) = ~42 kg
The Fnorm acts opposite of and balances the Fperp.
So Fnorm = Fperp = 364 N
Knowing Fnorm and mu, the Ffrict can be determined:
Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = 0.2*(364 N) = 73 N
Now the forces parallel to the incline can be summed:
∑F|| = F|| + Ffrict = 210, down to left + 73 N, up to right
∑F|| = 137 N, down to left
Using Newton's second law, ∑F|| = m•a||
So a|| = (137 N)/(42 kg) = 3.3 m/s/s
|
|
18.
Treating the two masses as a single system, it can be concluded that the net force on the 9-kg system is:
∑Fsystem = m•asystem = (9 kg)•(2.5 m/s/s) = 22.5 N, right
The free-body diagram for the system is:

The Fnorm supporting the 9-kg system is ~90 N.
So the Ffrict acting upon the system is:
Ffrict = mu• Fnorm = 0.20*(90 N) = 18 N, left
So if ∑Fsystem = 22.5 N, right and Ffrict = 18 N, left, the rightward Ftens1 must equal 40.5 N.
The Ftens2 force is found inside the system; as such it can not be determined through a system analysis. To determine the Ftens2, one of the individual masses must be isolated and a free-body analysis must be conducted for it.
The 3-kg mass is selected and analyzed:

The Fnorm and Fgrav balance each other; their value is ~30 N. The Ffrict on the 3-kg mass is:
Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = 0.20*(30 N) = 6 N, left
The net force on the 3-kg object is:
∑Fx = m•ax = (3 kg)•(2.5 m/s/s) = 7.5 N, right
The horizontal forces must sum up to the net force on the 3-kg object; So
∑Fx = m•ax = Ftens2 (right) + Ffrict (left)
7.5 N, right = Ftens2 + 6 N, left
The Ftens2 must be 13.5 N.
|
19.
Like most two-body problems involving pulleys, it is usually easiest to forgo the system analysis and conduct separate free-body analyses on the individual masses. Free-body diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and associated information is shown below.

Analyzing the Fx forces on the 250-g mass yields:
max = Ftens - Ffrict
Since Ffrict = mu•Fnorm and Fnorm = 2.5 N
The Ffrict is (0.1)*(2.5 N) = 0.25 N.
Substituting into equation 1 yields
(0.250 kg)•ax = Ftens - 0.25 N
Analyzing the Fy forces on the 50-g mass yields:
may = Fgrav - Ftens
Substituting m and Fgrav values into equation 3 yeilds:
(0.050 kg)*ay = (0.500 N) - Ftens
The above equation can be rearranged to:
Ftens = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*ay
Equation 4 provides an expression for Ftens; this can be substituted into equation 2:
(0.250 kg)•ax = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*ay - 0.25 N
Now since both masses accelerate at the same rate, ax =ay
and the above equation can be simplified into an equation with 1 unknown - the acceleration (a):
(0.250 kg)•a = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*a - 0.25 N
After a few algebra steps, the acceleration can be found:
(0.0300 kg)•a = 0.25 N
a = 0.833 m/s/s
Now that a has been found, its value can be substituted back into equation 4 in order to solve for Ftens:
Ftens = (0.500 N) - (0.050 kg)*(0.833 m/s/s)
Ftens = 0.458 N
|
|
20.
This problem can most easily be solved using separate free-body analyses on the individual masses. Free-body diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and associated information is shown below.

Note that the positive y-axis is chosen as being downards on the 200-g mass since that is the direction of its acceleration. Similarly, it chosen as upwards on the 100-g mass since that is the direction of its acceleration.
For the 200-gram mass, the sum of the vertical forces equals the mass times the acceleration:
Fgrav - Ftens = m•ay
2.00 N - Ftens = (0.200 kg)•ay
The same type of analysis can be conducted for the 100-gram mass:
Ftens - Fgrav = m•ay
Ftens - 1.00 N = (0.100 kg)•ay
Equation 2 can be rearranged to obtain an expression for the tension force:
Ftens = (0.100 kg)•ay + 1.00 N
This expression for Ftens can be substituted into equation 1 in order to obtain a single equation with acceleration (ay) as the unknown. The ay value can be solved for.
2.00 N -[(0.100 kg)•ay + 1.00 N] = (0.200 kg)•ay
2.00 N - 1.00 N = (0.200 kg)•ay + (0.100 kg)•ay
1.00 N = (0.300 kg)•ay
ay = (1.00 N)/(0.300 kg) = 3.33 m/s/s
Now with ay known, its value can be substituted into equation 3 in order to determine the tension force:
Ftens = (0.100 kg)•ay + 1.00 N
Ftens = (0.100 kg)•(3.33 m/s/s) + 1.00 N
Ftens = 0.333 N + 1.00 N = 1.33 N
|
21.
Like #20, this problem can most easily be solved using separate free-body analyses on the individual masses. Free-body diagrams, the chosen axes systems, and associated information is shown below. Note that in chosing the axis system, it has been assumed that object 1 will accelerate up the hill and object 2 will accelerate downwards. If this ends up to be false, then the acceleration values will turn out to be negative values.

Object 1 is on an inclined plane. The usual circumstances apply; their is no acceleration along what has been designated as the y-axis.
Fnorm = Fperp = m•g•cos(theta) = 888.2 N
The parallel component of Fgrav is
F|| = m•g•sin(theta) = (100 kg)•(9.8 m/s2)•sin(25)
F|| = 414.2 N
The Ffrict value can be found from the Fnorm value:
Ffrict = mu•Fnorm = (0.35)•(888.2 N) = 310.9 N
The ∑Fx = m•ax equation can now be written:
∑Fx = m•ax
Ftens - Ffrict - F|| = m•ax
Ftens - 310.9 N - 414.2 N = m•ax
(Note that the Ffrict and F|| forces are subtracted from Ftens since they are heading in the direction of the negative x-axis.)
The above process can be repeated for object 2. The ∑Fy = m•ay equation can now be written:
∑Fy = m•ay
Fgrav - Ftens = m•ay
(980 N) - Ftens = m•ay
The separate free-body analyses have provided two equations with two unknowns; the task at hand is to use these two equations to solve for Ftens and a.
Equation 2 can be re-written as
(980 N) - m•ay = Ftens
Since both objects accelerate together at the same rate, the ax for object 1 is equal to the ay value for object 2. The subscripts x and y can be dropped and a can be inserted into each equation.
(980 N) - m•a = Ftens
Equation 3 provides an expression for Ftens in terms of a. This expression is inserted into equation 1 in order to solve for acceleration. The steps are shown below.
(980 N) - m•a - 310.9 N - 414.2 N = m•a
= 2•m•a
254.9 N = 2•(100 kg)•a
1.27 m/s2 = a
The value of a can be re-inserted into equation 3 in order to solve for Ftens:
Ftens = (980 N) - m•a =(980 N) - (100 kg)•(1.27 m/s2)
Ftens = 853 N
|
[ #13 | #14 | #15 | #16 | #17 | #18 | #19 | #20 | #21 ]
Navigate to:
Review Session Home - Topic Listing
Forces in 2 Dimensions - Home || Printable Version || Questions with Links
Answers to Questions: All || #1-12 || #13-21 || #22-30
You Might Also Like ...
Users of The Review Session are often looking for learning resources that provide them with practice and review opportunities that include built-in feedback and instruction. If that is what you're looking for, then you might also like the following:
- The Calculator Pad
The Calculator Pad includes physics word problems organized by topic. Each problem is accompanied by a pop-up answer and an audio file that explains the details of how to approach and solve the problem. It's a perfect resource for those wishing to improve their problem-solving skills.
Visit: The Calculator Pad Home | Calculator Pad - Forces in Two Dimensions
- Minds On Physics the App Series
Minds On Physics the App ("MOP the App") is a series of interactive questioning modules for the student that is serious about improving their conceptual understanding of physics. Each module of the series covers a different topic and is further broken down into sub-topics. A "MOP experience" will provide a learner with challenging questions, feedback, and question-specific help in the context of a game-like environment. It is available for phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and Macintosh computers. It's a perfect resource for those wishing to refine their conceptual reasoning abilities. Part 2 of the series includes Forces in Two Dimensions.
Visit: MOP the App Home || MOP the App - Part 2