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POGIL: Newtons Second Law of Motion Recall that Newtons first law is a model of why objects stay at rest or move with constant velocity. Newtons second law is a model for why objects change their velocity or, in other words, why they accelerate. In this POGIL we will familiarize ourselves with this law. Newtons Second Law of Motion, Net Force, and Mass Newtons second law of motion combines two ideas that we have seen in previous labs: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force exerted on it. This means that if the net force on an object doubles, the acceleration will double; if the net force on the object triples, the acceleration will triple, etc. This is illustrated by the diagrams below. Friction has been ignored.

This wagon accelerates at 2 m/s2.

This wagon accelerates at 4 m/s2.

This wagon accelerates at 6 m/s2.

10 N

20 N

30 N

The acceleration of an object is inversely proportional to the mass of the object. This means that if we double the mass of an object while the net force acting on it is the same, the acceleration will be one-half as much; if we triple the mass while the net force acting on it is the same, the acceleration will be one-third as much, etc. This is illustrated by the diagrams below.

This 10 kg wagon accelerates at 3 m/s2.

This 20 kg wagon accelerates at 1.5 m/s2.

This 30 kg wagon accelerates at 1 m/s2.

30 N

30 N

30 N

1. In the diagram below, Ralph pushes a wagon to the right with a force of 50 N, causing it to accelerate to the right at 2 m/s2. Ignoring friction, what is the acceleration of the wagon if Ralph pushes with: (a) 100 N of force? (b) 150 N of force? (c) 250 N of force? (d) 25 N of force? (e) 10 N of force? (f) 5 N of force?

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2. Now suppose Ralph pushes on a wagon filled with some dirt, having a total mass of 10 kg, and causes it to accelerate at 5 m/s2. Ignoring friction and assuming Ralph pushes with the same force, what is the acceleration of the wagon if we change the amount of dirt and therefore the mass to: (a) 20 kg? (b) 30 kg? (c) 50 kg? (d) 5 kg? (e) 2 kg? (f) 1 kg? 3. Mass is sometimes described as the difficulty of acceleration of an object. How does Newtons second law agree with this description?

Net Force, Mass, and Acceleration Newtons second law can be summarized in the equation

acceleration =
or

net force , mass

Fnet . m

When the net force is measured in units of Newtons (N) and the mass is measured in kilograms (kg) then the acceleration will be in units of m/s2. The following diagrams demonstrate Newtons second law. Each box has a mass of 5 kg and is being pushed by one or more people. We are assuming the boxes are in free space and there is no friction.

25 N 10 N 10 N net force = 15 N to the left acceleration = 15 N/5 kg = 3 m/s2 to the left

15 N

net force = 10 N to the right acceleration = 10 N/5 kg = 2 m/s2 to the right

20 N net force = 5 N to the right acceleration = 5 N/5 kg = 1 m/s2 to the right

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4. Determine the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on the following boxes. Then determine the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the boxes. Assume the boxes are in free space and there is no friction. (a) mass of box = 2 kg

magnitude of net force = direction of net force =

15 N 22 N

magnitude of acceleration = direction of acceleration =

(b) mass of box = 8 kg

18 N magnitude of net force = direction of net force = magnitude of acceleration = direction of acceleration = 14 N

(c) mass of box = 3 kg

magnitude of net force = 4N direction of net force = magnitude of acceleration = direction of acceleration = 10 N
(d) mass of box = 0.5 kg

6N

4N

magnitude of net force = direction of net force = 3N magnitude of acceleration = direction of acceleration =

9N

4N
(e) mass of box = 7 kg

magnitude of net force = direction of net force = 3N 2N magnitude of acceleration = direction of acceleration =

5N

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5. Which of the boxes in question 4 could be at rest and remaining at rest? Explain your answer.

6. Which of the boxes in question 4 could be moving with constant velocity? Explain your answer.

7. Could the box in question 4(a) be moving to the left? If so, is its speed increasing, decreasing, or constant? If not, explain why not.

8. Could the box in question 4(a) be moving to the right? If so, is its speed increasing, decreasing, or constant? If not, explain why not.

9. Suppose the box in question 4(a) is moving down. How does the net force affect its motion?