<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

All the forces discussed in this section are real forces, but there are a number of other real forces, such as lift and thrust, that are not discussed in this section. They are more specialized, and it is not necessary to discuss every type of force. It is natural, however, to ask where the basic simplicity we seek to find in physics is in the long list of forces. Are some more basic than others? Are some different manifestations of the same underlying force? The answer to both questions is yes, as will be seen in the next (extended) section and in the treatment of modern physics later in the text.

Phet explorations: forces in 1 dimension

Explore the forces at work when you try to push a filing cabinet. Create an applied force and see the resulting friction force and total force acting on the cabinet. Charts show the forces, position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time. View a free-body diagram of all the forces (including gravitational and normal forces).

Forces in 1 Dimension

Section summary

  • When objects rest on a surface, the surface applies a force to the object that supports the weight of the object. This supporting force acts perpendicular to and away from the surface. It is called a normal force, N size 12{N} {} .
  • When objects rest on a non-accelerating horizontal surface, the magnitude of the normal force is equal to the weight of the object:

    N = mg size 12{N= ital "mg"} {} .

  • When objects rest on an inclined plane that makes an angle θ size 12{θ} {} with the horizontal surface, the weight of the object can be resolved into components that act perpendicular ( w ) and parallel ( w size 12{w rSub { size 8{ \lline \lline } } } {} ) to the surface of the plane. These components can be calculated using:

    w = w sin ( θ ) = mg sin ( θ ) size 12{w rSub { size 8{ \lline \lline } } =w"sin" \( θ \) = ital "mg""sin" \( θ \) } {}
    w = w cos ( θ ) = mg cos ( θ ) size 12{w rSub { size 8{ ortho } } =w"cos" \( θ \) = ital "mg""cos" \( θ \) } {} .

  • The pulling force that acts along a stretched flexible connector, such as a rope or cable, is called tension, T size 12{T} {} . When a rope supports the weight of an object that is at rest, the tension in the rope is equal to the weight of the object:

    T = mg size 12{T= ital "mg"} {} .

  • In any inertial frame of reference (one that is not accelerated or rotated), Newton’s laws have the simple forms given in this chapter and all forces are real forces having a physical origin.

Conceptual questions

If a leg is suspended by a traction setup as shown in [link] , what is the tension in the rope?

Diagram of a leg in traction.
A leg is suspended by a traction system in which wires are used to transmit forces. Frictionless pulleys change the direction of the force T without changing its magnitude.
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

In a traction setup for a broken bone, with pulleys and rope available, how might we be able to increase the force along the tibia using the same weight? (See [link] .) (Note that the tibia is the shin bone shown in this image.)

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Problem exercises

Two teams of nine members each engage in a tug of war. Each of the first team’s members has an average mass of 68 kg and exerts an average force of 1350 N horizontally. Each of the second team’s members has an average mass of 73 kg and exerts an average force of 1365 N horizontally. (a) What is magnitude of the acceleration of the two teams? (b) What is the tension in the section of rope between the teams?

  1. 0. 11 m/s 2 size 12{0 "." "11 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}
  2. 1 . 2 × 10 4 N size 12{1 "." 2 times "10" rSup { size 8{4} } " N"} {}
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What force does a trampoline have to apply to a 45.0-kg gymnast to accelerate her straight up at 7 . 50 m/s 2 size 12{7 "." "50 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} ? Note that the answer is independent of the velocity of the gymnast—she can be moving either up or down, or be stationary.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

(a) Calculate the tension in a vertical strand of spider web if a spider of mass 8 . 00 × 10 5 kg size 12{8 "." "00" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 5} } " kg"} {} hangs motionless on it. (b) Calculate the tension in a horizontal strand of spider web if the same spider sits motionless in the middle of it much like the tightrope walker in [link] . The strand sags at an angle of 12º size 12{"12"°} {} below the horizontal. Compare this with the tension in the vertical strand (find their ratio).

(a) 7 . 84 × 10 -4 N size 12{7 "." "84" times "10" rSup { size 8{4} } " N"} {}

(b) 1 . 89 × 10 –3 N size 12{1 "." "89" times "10" rSup { size 8{"–3"} } " N"} {} . This is 2.41 times the tension in the vertical strand.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Suppose a 60.0-kg gymnast climbs a rope. (a) What is the tension in the rope if he climbs at a constant speed? (b) What is the tension in the rope if he accelerates upward at a rate of 1 . 50 m/s 2 size 12{1 "." "50 m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} ?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Show that, as stated in the text, a force F size 12{F rSub { size 8{ ortho } } } {} exerted on a flexible medium at its center and perpendicular to its length (such as on the tightrope wire in [link] ) gives rise to a tension of magnitude T = F 2 sin ( θ ) size 12{T= { {F rSub { size 8{ ortho } } } over {2"sin" \( θ \) } } } {} .

Newton’s second law applied in vertical direction gives

F y = F 2 T sin θ = 0 size 12{F rSub { size 8{y} } =F - 2T" sin "θ=0} {}
F = 2 T sin θ size 12{F rSub { size 8{ ortho } } =2"T sin "θ} {}
T = F 2 sin θ size 12{T= { {F rSub { size 8{ ortho } } } over {"2 sin "θ} } } {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Consider the baby being weighed in [link] . (a) What is the mass of the child and basket if a scale reading of 55 N is observed? (b) What is the tension T 1 size 12{T rSub { size 8{1} } } {} in the cord attaching the baby to the scale? (c) What is the tension T 2 size 12{T rSub { size 8{2} } } {} in the cord attaching the scale to the ceiling, if the scale has a mass of 0.500 kg? (d) Draw a sketch of the situation indicating the system of interest used to solve each part. The masses of the cords are negligible.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
A vertical spring scale measuring the weight of a baby is shown. The scale is hung from the ceiling by a cord. The weight W of the baby is shown by a vector arrow acting downward and tension T sub one acting in the cord is shown by an arrow upward. The tension in the cord T sub two attached to the ceiling is represented by an arrow upward from the spring scale and downward from the ceiling.
A baby is weighed using a spring scale.

Questions & Answers

how does Neisseria cause meningitis
Nyibol Reply
what is microbiologist
Muhammad Reply
what is errata
Muhammad
is the branch of biology that deals with the study of microorganisms.
Ntefuni Reply
What is microbiology
Mercy Reply
studies of microbes
Louisiaste
when we takee the specimen which lumbar,spin,
Ziyad Reply
How bacteria create energy to survive?
Muhamad Reply
Bacteria doesn't produce energy they are dependent upon their substrate in case of lack of nutrients they are able to make spores which helps them to sustain in harsh environments
_Adnan
But not all bacteria make spores, l mean Eukaryotic cells have Mitochondria which acts as powerhouse for them, since bacteria don't have it, what is the substitution for it?
Muhamad
they make spores
Louisiaste
what is sporadic nd endemic, epidemic
Aminu Reply
the significance of food webs for disease transmission
Abreham
food webs brings about an infection as an individual depends on number of diseased foods or carriers dully.
Mark
explain assimilatory nitrate reduction
Esinniobiwa Reply
Assimilatory nitrate reduction is a process that occurs in some microorganisms, such as bacteria and archaea, in which nitrate (NO3-) is reduced to nitrite (NO2-), and then further reduced to ammonia (NH3).
Elkana
This process is called assimilatory nitrate reduction because the nitrogen that is produced is incorporated in the cells of microorganisms where it can be used in the synthesis of amino acids and other nitrogen products
Elkana
Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu Reply
Give Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu
advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal Reply
Prevent foreign microbes to the host
Abubakar
they provide healthier benefits to their hosts
ayesha
They are friends to host only when Host immune system is strong and become enemies when the host immune system is weakened . very bad relationship!
Mark
what is cell
faisal Reply
cell is the smallest unit of life
Fauziya
cell is the smallest unit of life
Akanni
ok
Innocent
cell is the structural and functional unit of life
Hasan
is the fundamental units of Life
Musa
what are emergency diseases
Micheal Reply
There are nothing like emergency disease but there are some common medical emergency which can occur simultaneously like Bleeding,heart attack,Breathing difficulties,severe pain heart stock.Hope you will get my point .Have a nice day ❣️
_Adnan
define infection ,prevention and control
Innocent
I think infection prevention and control is the avoidance of all things we do that gives out break of infections and promotion of health practices that promote life
Lubega
Heyy Lubega hussein where are u from?
_Adnan
en français
Adama
which site have a normal flora
ESTHER Reply
Many sites of the body have it Skin Nasal cavity Oral cavity Gastro intestinal tract
Safaa
skin
Asiina
skin,Oral,Nasal,GIt
Sadik
How can Commensal can Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
How can Commensal Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
all
Tesfaye
by fussion
Asiina
what are the advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal
what are the ways of control and prevention of nosocomial infection in the hospital
Micheal
what is inflammation
Shelly Reply
part of a tissue or an organ being wounded or bruised.
Wilfred
what term is used to name and classify microorganisms?
Micheal Reply
Binomial nomenclature
adeolu
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 3

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College physics. OpenStax CNX. Jul 27, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College physics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask