PHYS 1111 - Introductory Physics I
Chapter 5 - Newton's Laws

Study Assignment:

Chapter 5, Sections 5.1 - 5.7, Free-Body Diagram Supplement

Lesson notes:

Newton's Laws explain why an object moves; this is the study of dynamics. We will first discuss the concept of force and introduce Newton's three laws. Next we will introduce the free-body diagram as a tool for solving problems involving Newton's Laws. Understanding how to construct free body diagrams is essential to success in solving problems involving Newton's 2nd Law. We will then apply Newton's 2nd Law to a variety of problems. 

Objectives:

1. Understand the concept of force and know the four fundamental forces of nature.

2. Be able to state and explain Newton's three laws.

3. Be able to describe weight, tension, normal and applied forces.

4. Be able to draw a free-body diagram for a body acted upon by a variety of forces.

5. Be able to apply Newton's laws to analyze the motion of a body acted upon by several forces.

Vocabulary:

contact force
inertia
weight
reaction
tension
normal force
applied force
equilibrium
Atwood's machine

Sample Problems:

TQ:  5.1, 5.5, 5.10, 5.18 
TP:  5.1, 5.4, 5.12, 5.13, 5.21, 5.25, 5.29 
Draw free-body diagrams for the cases described in paragraph 5 of the free-body diagram supplement.

Additional materials:

A short biography of Isaac Newton is provided by the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Additional resources are available from the text Web site.

Last update: August 18, 2008