Forces – Formula Sheet:

Newton’s 1 Law:
st
An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in
motion will continue in motion unless acted on by a
net external force.

Newton’s 2nd Law:

F net=ma

Newton’s 3rd Law: For every action force, there’s an equal and opposite
reaction force.

F AB=−F BA

Weight Force:
W =mg

Normal Force:
F N =mg

Net Force:
F net=∑ F x =F A −f

F net=∑ F y =F N −W

Kinetic Friction:
f k =u k F N

Static Friction:
f s ≤u s F N

Net Force:
F net=∑ F x =T x −f k

F net=∑ F y =F N +T Y −W

Normal Force:
F N =mg−T y

Tension Force:
T =√ T x 2+T y 2

T x =T cos θ T y =T sin θ

The Elevator Problem:

∑ F y =F N −W
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 m a y =F N −mg

Normal Force:
F N =m ( a y + g )

2
g=+ 9.8 m/s

Contact Force: (Without Friction)

m2
F 1, 2= F
mT

F
a= m =m 1+ m2
mT T

Contact Force: (Without Friction)

F
a= m =m1+ m2 +m3
mT T

m2+ m3 m3
F 1, 2= F F 2 ,3 = F
mT mT

Tension Force:

m1 F
T= F a= m =m1 +m2
mT mT T

Tension Force:

m1 m1 +m2
T 1= F T 2= F
mT mT

Tension Force:

T 1=m1 g T 2=( m1+ m2) g

Note: For examples with friction, see my physics video playlist at www.Video-
Tutor.net

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 Acceleration:

m2
a= g mT =m1 +m2
mT

Tension Force:

T =m1 ax T =m2 (a y + g)

a=|a x|=|a y| g=+ 9.8 m/s

2

Note: a y =−since m2 is falling∧a x =+for m1 .

Acceleration:

m2 −uk m1
a= g mT =m1+ m2
mT

Tension Force:

T =m1 ( a x +u k g ) T =m2 ( a y + g )

a=|a x|=|a y| g=+ 9.8 m/s 2 a y =−ax =+ ¿

Acceleration: (If m2 > m1)

m2 −m1
a= g mT =m1+ m2
mT

Tension Force:

T =m1 ( a y + g ) T =m2 (a y + g)

a=|a y|g=+9.8 m/ s
2
'
a y =+ for m1 since it s going up .
'
a y =−for m2 since it s going down .
Minimum Angle Needed for the Box to Begin
Sliding:
−1
θ=tan (us )

f s ≤u s F N

F g=mgsin θ F N =mg cos θ

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 Acceleration: (Without Friction)

a=g sin θ

Acceleration: (With Friction)

a x =g sin θ−uk g cos θ

∑ F x =F g−f k
F g=mgsin θ F N =mg cos θ f k =uk F N

Net Force:

∑ F x =¿ T −f k −F g ¿
m a x =T −uk mg cos θ−mgsin θ

Note: f k will always point opposite to the direction of

motion.

If m2 g> m1 g sinθ ,the systemwill move ¿the ¿ .

Acceleration: (Without Friction) a=|a x|=¿ a y ∨¿

a=
∑ F x = m2−m1 sinθ g a=+ ¿
mT mT

Tension: (Without Friction) a x =+¿ a y =−¿

m2 g> m1 g sin θ
T =m1 ( a x + g sin θ ) T =m2 ( a y + g )

Acceleration: (With Friction) a=|a x|=¿ a y ∨¿

a=
∑ F x = m2−m1 sinθ−u k m1 cos θ g
mT mT

Tension: (With Friction) a x =+¿ a y =−¿

m2 g> m1 g sin θ T =m1 ( a x + g sin θ+u k g cos θ ) T =m2 (a y + g)

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 If m2 g< m1 g sinθ ,the systemwill move ¿the ¿ (a = -)

Acceleration: (Without Friction) a=|a x|=¿ a y ∨¿

a=
∑ F x = m2−m1 sinθ g a=−¿
mT mT

Tension: (Without Friction) a x =−¿ a y =+¿

m2 g< m1 g sin θ
T =m1 ( a x + g sin θ ) T =m2 ( a y + g )

Acceleration: (With Friction) a=|a x|=¿ a y ∨¿

a=
∑ F x = m2−m1 sinθ +uk m1 cos θ g a=−¿
mT mT

Tension: (With Friction) a x =−¿ a y =+¿

m2 g< m1 g sin θ T =m1 ( a x + g sin θ−uk g cos θ ) T =m2 ( a y + g )

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