Short Questions and Answer

Laws of Motion - Physics

Short Answer Questions

1. Explain the concept of inertia. Write two examples each for inertia of motion, inertia of rest and inertia of direction.

Inertia:- This inability of objects to move on its own or change its state of motion is called inertia.

Inertia of rest:- The inability of an object to change its state of rest is called inertia of rest.

Example:

1. When stationary bus starts to move the passengers experience a sudden backward push. Due to inertia, the body will try to continue in the state of rest, while the bus moves forward.

2. A book lying on the table will remain at rest, until it is moved by some external agencies.

Inertia of motion: The inability of an object to change its state of uniform speed on its own is called inertia of motion.

Example:

1. When the bus is in motion and if the brake is applied suddenly, passengers move forward and hit against the front seat. As the bus stop, the body continue to move forward due to property of inertia.

2. An athlete running in a race will continue to run even after reaching the finishing point.

Inertia of direction: The inability of an object to change its direction of motion on its own is called inertia of direction.

Example:

1. When a stone attached to a string is in whirling motion, and if the string is cut suddenly the stone will not continue to move in circular motion but moves tangential to the circle.

2. When a bus moving along straight line takes a turn to the right, the passengers are thrown towards left.

2. State Newton’s second law.

The force acting on an object is equal to the rate of change of its momentum

3. Define one newton.

One newton is defined as the force which acts on 1 kg of mass to give an acceleration 1ms^-2 in the direction of the force.

4. Show that impulse is the change of momentum.

If a force (F) acts on the object in a very short interval of time (Δt), from Newton’s second law in magnitude form

F dt = dp     ………..(1)

Integrating the above equation

is called impulse from eqn. 2 and 3

J = Δp

So, Impulse is equal to change in momentum of the object.

5. Using free body diagram, show that it is easy to pull an object than to push it.

It is easier to pull an object than to push to make it move. When a body is pushed at an arbitrary angle θ (0 to π/2 ), the applied force F can be resolved into two components as F sinθ parallel to the surface and F cosθ perpendicular to the surface.

The total downward force mg+Fcosθ act on the body which is implies that normal force acting on the body increases.

Since there is no acceleration along the vertical direction, the normal force N is given by

N_push = mg + Fcosθ …………… (1)

As a result the maximum static friction also increase and is give by the equation.

ƒ_s^max = μ_sN_push = μ_s (mg + Fcosθ)       ………. (2)

a greater force a needs to be applied to push the object into motion.

From diagram N_pull = mg – Fcosθ          …………. (3)

The Total downward force mg - Fcosθ.

ƒ_s^max = μ_sN_pull = μ_s (mg − Fcosθ)           ………. (4)

Hence from (2) and (4) shows that the normal force. N_pull is less than N_push and it is easier to pull an object than to push to make it move.

6. Explain various types of friction. Suggest a few methods to reduce friction.

Types of friction is

1. Static friction

2. Kinetic friction

3. Limiting friction

Static friction : Static friction is the force which always opposes the movement of the object from rest.

It can take values from zero to μ_sN. If an external force greater than μ_sN then object begins to move.

Kinetic friction : The force of friction which comes into effect, when a body is in motion with constant velocity over the surface of another body is called kinetic friction (or) dynamic friction.

Limiting friction: The maximum force of static friction (ƒ_s^max) which comes into effect when a body just starts moving over the surface of another body is called limiting friction (ie) ƒ_s ≤ƒ_s^max

Method of reducing friction :

1. To reduce kinetic friction in Heavy machines and industries lubricants like oil, grease etc., are used.

2. To reduce kinetic friction in machines ball bearings are used

3. To reduce friction by making the surfaces in contact are made highly polished and smooth.

7. What is the meaning by ‘pseudo force’?

Pseudo force means 'centrifugal force' such a force which does not really act on particles but appears due to acceleration of the frame is called pseudo force. 

8. State the empirical laws of static and kinetic friction.

Static friction 0 ≤ f_s^max (or)  0 ≤ f_s ≤ μ_sN

Kinetic friction f_K ≤  f_s^max

(ie) μ_k < μ_s

9. State Newton’s third law.

● Newton’s third law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

● Here action and reaction pair of forces do not act on the same body but on two different bodies.

● It is valid in both inertial and non inertial frames.

10. What are inertial frames?

A frame of reference in which Newton's first law of motion holds good is called an Gravity frame of reference.

In this frame, a body remains at rest or in continuous motion unless acted upon by external force.

11. Under what condition will a car skid on a leveled circular road?

mv² /r > μ_s mg (or) μ_s < v² / rg

If the static friction is not able to provide enough centripetal force to turn, the vehicle will start to skid.