Newtons Second Law of Motion and Momentum

Newtons Second Law of Motion and Momentum

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:32 PM IST

The second of Newton’s laws of motion states that specific relations exist between mass, acceleration, and the force affecting the mass body. In other words, whatever mass moves with a certain acceleration has the measure of force which is equal to the product of that mass and acceleration (F = ma). Considered this way, this law also explains the concept of momentum which is mass multiplied by velocity.

Newtons Second Law of Motion and Momentum
Newtons Second Law of Motion and Momentum

What is the Second Law of Motion?

The acceleration of an item is determined by two variables: the net force acting on it and the mass of the object, according to Newton's second law. Therefore, the body's acceleration is proportional to the body's net force and inversely proportional to its mass. This means that the acceleration of an object increases as the force acting on it increases. Similarly, when an object's mass grows, so does its acceleration.

The second law thus reduces to the more common mass-acceleration product:

F = ma

F = mass * acceleration

Keep in mind that this relationship is only valid for things with a fixed mass. This equation states that when an item is subjected to an external force, it will accelerate and that the quantity of acceleration is proportional to the force. The quantity of acceleration is also inversely related to the item's mass; given equal forces, a heavier object will experience less acceleration. A force causes a change in velocity, and a change in velocity produces a force, according to the momentum equation. It's a two-sided equation.

There is a magnitude and a direction associated with velocity, force, acceleration, and momentum. This is referred to as a vector quantity by scientists and mathematicians. The equations presented here are vector equations that can be used in any of the component directions.

Newton's Second Law in Terms of Momentum

The net external force equals the change in momentum of a system divided by the time it changes, according to Newton's second law of motion. In equation form, this law is

$\mathrm{F}_{\text {net }}=\mathrm{dp} / \mathrm{dt}$

Here, p is the momentum of the body.

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For Changing Mass

Let us assume that we have a car at a point ( 0 ) defined by location $X_0$ and time $t_0$. The car has a mass $m_0$ and travels with a velocity $v_0$. After being subjected to a force $F$, the car moves to point 1 which is defined by location $X_1$ and time $t_1$. The mass and velocity of the car change during the travel to values $m_1$ and $v_1$. Newton's second law helps us determine the new values of $m_1$ and $v_1$ if we know the value of the acting force.

Taking the difference between point 1 and point 0, we get an equation for the force acting on the car as follows:

$$
F=\frac{m_1 v_1-m_0 v_0}{t_1-t_0}
$$
Let us assume the mass to be constant. This assumption is good for a car because the only change in mass would be the fuel burned between point " 1 " and point " 0 ". The weight of the fuel is probably small relative to the rest of the car, especially if we only look at small changes in time. Meanwhile, if we were discussing the flight of a bottle rocket, then the mass does not remain constant, and we can only look at changes in momentum.

For Constant Mass

For a constant mass, Newton's second law can be equated as follows:

$$
F=m \frac{v_1-v_0}{t_1-t_0}
$$
We know that acceleration is defined as the change in velocity divided by the change in time.
The second law then reduces to a more familiar form as follows:

$$
F=m a
$$
The above equation tells us that an object will accelerate if it is subjected to an external force. The amount of force is directly proportional to the acceleration and inversely proportional to the object's mass.

Application of Newton's Second Law

The use of Newton's second law of motion can be observed in determining the amount of force required to move or stop an item. Here are a few examples to assist you grasp what we're talking about:

1. Slab of Bricks is broken by a karate player.

In order to smash a slab of bricks, a karate player employs Newton's second law of motion. Because the force is proportional to the acceleration, the player likes to move his or her hands quickly over the brick slab. This aids him in gaining speed and exerting a commensurate amount of power. The amount of force required to break the bricks is sufficient.

2. Kicking a soccer ball

We apply force in a precise direction when we kick a ball, which is the direction in which it will travel. Furthermore, the harder we kick the ball, the more force we apply to it, and the further it will travel.

3. Object launched from a great height

When an object is hurled from a specific height, the earth's gravitational attraction aids acceleration. As the object approaches the Earth, its acceleration increases. Newton's second law of motion states that a body's acceleration is proportional to its force. When an object collides with the ground, the impact force is activated. This is why a brittle object thrown from a tall structure deforms more than one thrown from a lesser height.

4. Driving a vehicle

In simple terms, Newton's second law of motion asserts that any object with mass will produce an equivalent amount of acceleration if force is applied to it. When we turn on the ignition system of a car, for example, the engine creates enough force to allow the automobile to drive with proportionate acceleration.

5. A cart is being pushed.

In a supermarket, pushing an empty cart is easier than pushing one that is loaded. To accelerate, more mass requires more force.

6. Two individuals are walking.

If one of the two people walking is heavier than the other, the heavier person will walk more slowly since the lighter person's acceleration is greater.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the significance of Newton's Second Law in understanding the concept of center of mass?
A:
Newton's Second Law is crucial in understanding the behavior of a system's center of mass. The law states that the net external force on a system equals the mass of the system times the acceleration of its center of mass (F_net =
Q: What role does friction play in applications of Newton's Second Law?
A:
Friction plays a significant role in many applications of Newton's Second Law. It's often a force that opposes motion and must be included when calculating the net force on an object. For example, when an object slides on a surface, the friction force opposes the motion and affects the object's acceleration. Understanding and accounting for friction is crucial in real-world applications of Newton's Second Law, from designing vehicles to analyzing the motion of objects on inclined planes.
Q: How does Newton's Second Law explain the motion of objects on inclined planes?
A:
For objects on inclined planes, Newton's Second Law helps analyze the components of forces acting parallel and perpendicular to the plane. The weight of the object is resolved into these components, and the parallel component causes acceleration down the plane. The equation F = ma is applied to the force parallel to the plane, considering any friction present. This analysis helps predict the object's acceleration and motion along the incline.
Q: How does Newton's Second Law apply to systems of multiple objects?
A:
For systems of multiple objects, Newton's Second Law can be applied to each object individually or to the system as a whole. When applied to the entire system, the law relates the net external force to the acceleration of the center of mass of the system. This approach is particularly useful in analyzing complex systems where internal forces cancel out, simplifying the analysis to focus on external forces and the overall motion of the system.
Q: How does Newton's Second Law explain the concept of apparent weight in elevators?
A:
Newton's Second Law explains apparent weight in elevators by considering the acceleration of the elevator. When an elevator accelerates upward, the apparent weight (the force exerted on the floor) is greater than the actual weight because the floor must provide an additional force to accelerate the person upward (F = m(g+a)). Conversely, when the elevator accelerates downward, the apparent weight decreases (F = m(g-a)). This demonstrates how acceleration affects the forces experienced in non-inertial reference frames.
Q: What is the significance of the proportionality constant in Newton's Second Law?
A:
The proportionality constant in Newton's Second Law (F = ma) is essentially 1 in SI units. This constant ensures that the units on both sides of the equation are consistent. Its value depends on the choice of units for force, mass, and acceleration. In SI units (N, kg, m/s²), it's 1 and often omitted. However, in other unit systems, it may have a different value to maintain consistency between the units of force and the product of mass and acceleration.
Q: How does Newton's Second Law apply to objects moving in circular motion?
A:
For objects in circular motion, Newton's Second Law is applied to understand the centripetal force required to maintain the circular path. The acceleration in this case is centripetal acceleration (a = v²/r), directed towards the center of the circle. The force providing this acceleration (F = mv²/r) is the centripetal force. This application of Newton's Second Law explains why objects in circular motion require a constant force directed towards the center of the circle.
Q: Can Newton's Second Law explain why objects of different masses fall at the same rate in a vacuum?
A:
Yes, Newton's Second Law explains this phenomenon. In a vacuum, the only force acting on a falling object is gravity. The gravitational force is proportional to the object's mass (F = mg). When we apply F = ma, we get mg = ma. The mass cancels out on both sides, leaving g = a. This shows that the acceleration due to gravity is independent of mass, explaining why objects of different masses fall at the same rate in a vacuum.
Q: How does Newton's Second Law relate to the concept of mechanical equilibrium?
A:
Mechanical equilibrium is a state where there is no net force acting on an object, resulting in no acceleration. This directly relates to Newton's Second Law: when the net force is zero (ΣF = 0), the acceleration is also zero (a = 0). In equilibrium, all forces acting on the object balance each other out. This concept is crucial in analyzing static situations and understanding the conditions necessary for an object to remain at rest or in uniform motion.
Q: What role does Newton's Second Law play in understanding the motion of planets and satellites?
A:
Newton's Second Law is fundamental in understanding orbital motion. For planets and satellites, the centripetal force required for circular or elliptical orbits is provided by gravity. The law helps in calculating orbital velocities, periods, and the shapes of orbits. It explains why objects in higher orbits move more slowly and why the force of gravity must be precisely balanced by the object's inertia to maintain a stable orbit.