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Why can we neglect forces such as those holding a body together when we apply Newton’s second law of motion?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Internal forces acting on a body are equal and opposite in direction, so their sum must be zero. Therefore, there can be no net force from the internal forces.

Step by step solution

01

Concept of Newton’s second law of motion

Newton’s second law of motion states that the acceleration of a system is directly proportional to the net external force acting on the system and is inversely proportional to the mass of the system. Mathematically,

Fnet=ma

Herelocalid="1654165093803" Fnetis the net force,localid="1654165395003" mis the mass, andlocalid="1654165421915" ais the acceleration.

02

Explanation for neglecting the internal forces

According to Newton’s first law, the change in motion is due to the net external force. Internal forces are responsible for holding together a given body. The internal forces do not affect the motion of a body. The motion of a body is affected only by external forces.

Internal forces acting on a body are equal and opposite in direction, so their sum must be zero. Therefore, there can be no net force from the internal forces.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Integrated Concepts

A 2.50-kg fireworks shell is fired straight up from a mortar and reaches a height of 110 m.

(a) Neglecting air resistance (a poor assumption, but we will make it for this example), calculate the shell’s velocity when it leaves the mortar.

(b) The mortar itself is a tube 0.450 m long. Calculate the average acceleration of the shell in the tube as it goes from zero to the velocity found in (a).

(c) What is the average force on the shell in the mortar? Express your answer in newtons and as a ratio to the weight of the shell.

A brave but inadequate rugby player is being pushed backward by an opposing player who is exerting a force of 800 N on him. The mass of the losing player plus equipment is 90.0 kg, and he is accelerating at 1.20 m/s2 backward. (a) What is the force of friction between the losing player’s feet and the grass? (b) What force does the winning player exert on the ground to move forward if his mass plus equipment is 110 kg?

(c) Draw a sketch of the situation showing the system of interest used to solve each part. For this situation, draw a free-body diagram and write the net force equation.

A cleaner pushes a 4.50-kg laundry cart in such a way that the net external force on it is 60.0 N. Calculate the magnitude of its acceleration.

To simulate the apparent weightlessness of space orbit, astronauts are trained in the hold of a cargo aircraft that is accelerating downward at g. Why will they appear to be weightless, as measured by standing on a bathroom scale, in this accelerated frame of reference? Is there any difference between their apparent weightlessness in orbit and in the aircraft?

Why does an ordinary rifle recoil (kick backward) when fired? The barrel of a recoilless rifle is open at both ends. Describe how Newton’s third law applies when one is fired. Can you safely stand close behind one when it is fired?

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