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Unbalanced force system
∗
Sunil Kumar Singh
This work is produced by OpenStax-CNX and licensed under the
†
Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0
Abstract
Unbalanced force system results in accelerated motion.
We are now appropriately equipped to study motion under a system of forces, which is not a balanced force
system. The resulting motion, in this situation, is an accelerated motion. The approach and methodology
for studying motion with unbalanced force system are same as employed for the study of balanced force
system.
There are large numbers of natural motions that fall under this category.
One such motion involves
motional mechanism that allows animals to move around surprisingly using internal muscular force. We
shall nd out that this is not an exception to the laws of motion, rather an intelligent endeavor on the part
of living beings that distinguish them from non-living counterparts.
There are many more such real time examples. A large numbers of real time examples of accelerated
motion belong to the category of circular motion. We shall, however, save these circular motion cases for
the study at a later stage.
1 Basic framework
The laws of motion are again the basic frame work for the study of body system under unbalanced force
system. The treatment of the laws diers in only one respect to the one used for balanced force system. The
net force, now, does not equate to zero, but to the product of mass and acceleration.
F = ma
P
In component form,
P
Example 1
Problem :
Fx = max ;
P
Fy = = may ;
P
Fz = = maz
A block of mass m is pulled by a string on a smooth horizontal surface with
acceleration a. The string maintains an angle θ with horizontal. Find (i) tension in the string
(ii) force applied by the surface on the block and (iii) force applied by the block on the surface.
∗ Version
1.6: Nov 22, 2008 4:24 am -0600
† http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
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Unbalanced force system
Figure 1
Solution :
Here, we consider block as the body system.
Free body diagram of the block
The external forces on the block are (i) Tension in the string,T, (ii) weight of the block, mg,
and (ii) Normal force applied by the surface,N.
Free body diagram
Figure 2
The block moves in x-direction with acceleration a'. On the other hand, there is no motion
involved in vertical i.e. y-direction as implied by the question. The forces in y-direction, therefore,
constitute a balanced force system. Now,
P
Fx = T cosθ = max
⇒ T cosθ = ma
⇒ T =
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ma
cosθ
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and
P
Fy = N + T sinθ − mg = 0
⇒ N = mg − T sinθ
Putting values of tension, T, in the above equation,
⇒ N = mg −
masinθ
cosθ
⇒ N = mg − matanθ
According to Newton's third law, the surface is acted upon by the same magnitude of force that
the surface applies on the block. Thus, force on surface is also N, acting downward.
Note in the example above that vertical component of tension has reduced the normal force from its magnitude, when external force (T) is not applied. This highlights the important aspect of contact forces that
they need not be equal to the weight of the body in contact. Equality of contact forces, however, is always
maintained in accordance with Newton's third law.
This means that surface is also acted by a reduced
normal force.
2 Composite mass system
A composite body system can be selected with elements having same acceleration.
We must understand
here that when we consider a composite body system then all internal forces should be neglected from our
consideration. The external force causes a common acceleration to the composite body system. Clearly, this
technique of combining bodies into a single composite body system is possible only when accelerations of
the constituents are same.
Let us work out a problem here to illustrate this point about the composite mass system.
Example 2
Problem :
Two blocks A and B of masses 10 kg and 20 kg respectively, connected by a string,
are placed on a smooth surface. The blocks are pulled by a horizontal force of 300 N as shown in
the gure. Find (i) acceleration of the blocks (ii) tension in the string and determine (iii) whether
magnitudes of acceleration and tension change when force is applied on other mass?
g = 10 m / s2
.
Unbalanced force system
Figure 3
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Consider,
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Solution :
4
Let us rst investigate acceleration and tension for the given conguration in the
gure above. Here, we see that two masses have same acceleration. We can use this opportunity
to apply the concept of composite body system (comprising of both blocks). We neglect tension in
the string as it constitutes internal force for the whole composite body system.
Let a be the acceleration in the direction of force. The mass of the composite body system,
mc
, is :
mc = 10 + 20 = 30 kg
Composite body system
Figure 4
Free body diagram of the composite body system
Free body diagram
Figure 5
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P
Fx = F = max
⇒ 300 = 30a
⇒ a = 10 m / s2
Note that this force equation does not depend on whether we apply force on A or B. In either
case, the force equation remains same only direction of acceleration changes with the change in
the direction of applied force. It means that magnitude of acceleration of the two body system will
remain same in either case.
In order to nd the tension in the string, however, we need to consider individual block. Here,
we consider block "A" for the simple reason that it is acted upon by a single force (T) in x-direction
and analysis of force on block "A" will be simpler than that of block "B", which is acted by two
forces (T and 300 N force).
Free body diagram of the body A
Free body diagram
Figure 6
P
Fx = T = max
⇒ T = 10a
⇒ T = 10 x 10 = 100 N
Now, we answer the third part of the question : whether magnitudes of acceleration and tension
change when force is applied on other mass? Let us consider the case when force is applied on body
A as shown in the gure.
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Free body diagram
Figure 7
Now, we consider force and acceleration of block "B" as it is now acted by only one force i.e.
tension in the string in x-direction.
Free body diagram of the body B
Free body diagram
Figure 8
P
Fx = T = max
⇒ T = 20a
⇒ T = 20 x 10 = 200 N
Thus, we see that acceleration (a) is independent, but tension (T) in the string is dependent on
the point of application of the external force.
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3 Time dependent force
The force as applied to a body may change with time.
The change may occur in any combination of
magnitude and direction of the force. The resulting acceleration will accordingly vary with time as given by
force equation. In turn, the rate of change of velocity will change.
In a simplied scheme of thing, the velocity prole of a motion due to a particular variable force may
look like the one shown here.
Velocity time plot
Figure 9
The velocity in rst two seconds is increasing at constant rate, meaning that the body is under constant
acceleration. The body is, thus, acted upon by a constant net force during this period. Subsequently, velocity
is constant for time between 2s and 4s. Acceleration and hence force on the body , therefore, is zero in this
interval. Finally, body is brought to rest with a constant force acting in opposite direction to that of velocity.
As a matter of fact, this velocity prole is typical of any vehicle, which is rst accelerated, then run with
minimum acceleration or even zero acceleration and nally brought to rest with constant deceleration.
We work out an example for studying motion under variable force, which is similar to the earlier example
except that force is now dependent on time.
Example 3
Problem :
A block of mass m is pulled by a string on a smooth horizontal surface with force
F = kt, where k is a constant. The string maintains an angle θ with horizontal. Find the time
when block breaks o from the surface.
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Unbalanced force system
Figure 10
Solution :
Here, important thing is to know the meaning of "breaking o". It means that
physical contact between two surfaces is broken o.
In that condition, the normal force should
disappear as there is no contact between block and surface.
Since normal force is directed vertically up, we need to analyze forces in y-direction only so that
we could apply the condition corresponding to "breaking o".
Free body diagram of the block
Free body diagram
Figure 11
P
Fy = N + ktsinθ − mg = 0
⇒ N = mg − ktsinθ
Now, let
t = tB
(break o time) when N = 0 (breaking o condition)
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⇒ 0 = mg − ktB sinθ
⇒ ktB sinθ = mg
⇒ tB =
mg
ksinθ
4 Motional mechanism of animals
According to laws of motion, motion of a body is not possible by the application of internal force.
the other hand, animals move around using internal muscular force.
On
This is not a contradiction, but an
intelligent maneuvering on the part of animals, which use internal muscular force to generate external force
on them.
Let us take the case of our own movement. So long we stand upright, applying weight on the ground in
vertical direction; there is no motion.
Motion of a human being
Figure 12
To move forward (say), we need to press back the surface at an angle. The ground applies an equal and
opposite force (say, reaction of the ground). The reaction of the surface is an external force for our body.
The horizontal component of the reaction force moves our body forward, whereas the vertical force balances
our weight.
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5 Elements of body system
The underlying frame work of the analysis of force systems in inertial frame of reference is now almost
complete. There is nothing new as far as application of laws of motion is concerned. But, there is a big but
with respect to details of various elements of body systems that we consider during study of motion. These
elements typically are block, string, incline, pulleys and spring.
The whole gamut of analysis in dynamics requires systemic approach to answer following questions :
1. what are the forces ?
2. which of them are external forces ?
3. does friction is part of the external force system ?
4. whether forces are collinear, coplanar or three-dimensional ?
5. are forces balanced or unbalanced ?
6. are the forces time dependent ?
7. is the motion taking place in inertial frame or accelerated frame ?
8. what would be the appropriate coordinate system for analysis ?
9. what are the characteristics of system elements ?
It is not very dicult to realize that our job is half done if we are able to classify the system in hand
based on the answers to above questions. Though, we have listed the system elements at the end of the list,
we shall soon realize that a great deal of our eort in getting answers to questions 1, 2, 4 and 8 are largely
determined by the elements involved, while the rest are situation specic.
We have briey described system elements like block, string, pulley etc. In subsequent modules, we shall
emphasize details of these and other elements.
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