Lecture 3
Lecture 3
x = xf − xi
Change in position along x-axis = (final position on x-axis) – (initial position on x-axis)
Keep in mind…
• Displacement is not always equal to the
distance traveled!
x xf − xi
vavg = =
t t f −ti
• Images are equally spaced. The car is moving with constant positive
velocity (shown by red arrows maintaining the same size)
• Acceleration equals zero
Acceleration and Velocity, 3
If the forces on an object are equal and opposite, they are said to be
balanced, and the object experiences no change in motion. If they
are not equal and opposite, then the forces are unbalanced and the
motion of the object changes.
Some Examples from Real Life
A soccer ball is sitting at rest. It takes an un
balanced force of a kick to change its motion.
Two teams are playing tug of war. They are both exerting equal force
on the rope in opposite directions. This balanced force results in no
change of motion.
Newton’s First Law is also called the Law of Inertia
The First Law states that all objects have inertia. The more mass
an object has, the more inertia it has (and the harder it is to
change its motion).
More Examples from Real Life
A powerful locomotive begins to pull a long
line of boxcars that were sitting at rest. Since
the boxcars are so massive, they have a great
deal of inertia and it takes a large force to
change their motion. Once they are moving,
it takes a large force to stop them.
F = ma
(2m)(2a) = 4F
So . . . what if you decrease the mass by half? How much force would the
object have now?
What does F = ma say?
F = ma basically means that the force of an object comes
from its mass and its acceleration.
Something very massive (high mass) that’s
changing speed very slowly (low acceleration),
like a glacier, can still have great force.
Something very small (low mass) that’s changing
speed very quickly (high acceleration), like a
bullet, can still have a great force. Something
very small changing speed very slowly will have
a very weak force.
Newton’s Third Law
G = 6.67 x 10-11
N•m/kg2
Problems
1. A horizontal force 0f 140N is needed to pull a 600Ounces
box across the horizontal floor at constant speed. What is the
coefficient of friction between floor and box?