Basic Mathematics

Introduction to Forces
R Horan & M Lavelle

The aim of this package is to provide a short self

assessment programme for students who want to
solve introductory problems about forces.

Copyright c 2005 Email: rhoran, mlavelle@plymouth.ac.uk

Last Revision Date: August 15, 2005 Version 1.0
 Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Examples of Forces
3. Forces as Vectors
4. Combining Forces
5. Final Quiz
Solutions to Exercises
Solutions to Quizzes

The full range of these packages and some instructions,

should they be required, can be obtained from our web
page Mathematics Support Materials.
Section 1: Introduction 3

1. Introduction
Newton’s first law of motion states that an object will continue to
stay at rest or move at constant speed in a straight line unless a force
acts upon it.
A force has a size and a direction: it is therefore a vector quantity.
Newton’s second law of motion states that a force F acting upon a
body of mass m causes an acceleration a of the body given by:
F = ma
The acceleration is in the direction of the force.
The SI unit of force is the newton (N). One newton of force is defined
as the force that causes a 1 kilogram mass to accelerate at 1 ms−2 .
(See the package on Units.)

Example 1 The tension T in a stretched rope is a force. It acts along

the direction of the rope.
Notation: T is the (scalar) magnitude of the (vector) force T .
Section 2: Examples of Forces 4

2. Examples of Forces
Weight This is the force due to gravity. It is important to distinguish
between mass and weight. If you were on the surface of the moon you
would have a smaller weight, but your mass would be unchanged.
Your weight points straight down towards the center of the Earth. The
size of your weight is given by W = mg where g is the acceleration
due to gravity. Its value is roughly g = 10 ms−2 .
Example 2 The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the
moon is g = 1.6 ms−2 . What would be the weight of an astronaut
with mass m = 60 kg?
Her weight would be W = mg = 60 × 1.6 = 96 N. The direction of her
weight would be towards the direction of the center of the moon.

Quiz On a new planet the same astronaut measures her weight to be

528 N. What is the acceleration due to gravity on the planet?
(a) 8.8 ms−2 , (b) 3.5 ms−2 , (c) 588 ms−2 , (d) 0.11 ms−2 .
Section 2: Examples of Forces 5

A book resting on a table stays at rest because of another force which

balances the gravitational force. This force is the normal reaction.
Normal Reaction If a force, such as gravity, pushes N
an object against a surface, then the molecules in the
surface will produce a force, called the normal reaction
force, N , that stops the object penetrating the surface.
The word normal refers to the force always being at W
right angles to the surface.
Example 3 If a book with mass 1.2 kg rests on a desk, what normal
reaction force is produced by the desk?
The weight of the book is W = mg = 1.2 × 10 = 12 N. The normal
reaction which balances this is also 12 N and acts upwards at right
angles to the desktop.
Quiz If you push down on a tabletop with a force of 30 N, what will
be the magnitude of the normal reaction?
(a) 30 N , (b) 300 N , (c) 3 N , (d) 0.
Section 2: Examples of Forces 6

Friction The force of friction resists attempts to move objects. If

you push very gently at an object that is resting on a rough surface
it will not move. The frictional force opposes the other force. If you
push a little bit harder (exert a larger force) friction will increase to
cancel the other force. If you push hard enough then, eventually, you
may exert a force larger than the maximum possible friction and the
object will start to accelerate.
Mathematically the above situation is expressed by an inequality:
F ≤ µN
where µ is called the coefficient of friction for that particular surface.
The coefficient of friction is a dimensionless ratio (a force divided by
a force) and is a number without any units.

Glossary:
a surface is smooth if frictional forces are small (negligible);
a surface is rough if frictional forces are significant (non-negligible).
Section 2: Examples of Forces 7

Example 4 If a 15 kg mass is resting on a surface whose coefficient of

friction is µ = 0.2, find the frictional forces when the following forces
are applied to the mass:
N

P F
a) P = 17 N, b) P = 29 N, c) P = 31 N.

W
To answer these questions, we must first calculate the maximum possi-
ble friction. The normal reaction, N , is given by N = mg = 15 × 10 =
150 N. Thus the maximum possible friction is
Fmax = µN = 0.2 × 150 = 30 N .
a) The applied force P = 17 N is less than the maximum friction.
Thus the frictional force is F = 17 N and the mass will not move.
b) The applied force P = 28 N is still less than the maximum friction.
Thus a frictional force of F = 28 N will be produced and the mass
will not move.
Section 2: Examples of Forces 8

c) The applied force P = 31 N is more than the maximum friction.

Thus the maximal frictional force of F = 30 N will be produced, but
there will be a net force of 1 N and the mass will start to accelerate
in the direction of P .

Exercise 1. A mass of 100 kg rests on a rough surface with coeffi-

cient of friction µ = 0.4. Find the frictional force when each of the
following forces is applied to the mass. In each case state what will
happen to the mass.

(a) P = 10 N, (b) P = 30 N, (c) P = 40 N (d) P = 60 N

Quiz If the coefficient of friction of a level surface is µ = 0.25 and

a mass of 16 kg is placed on it, how large a horizontal force can be
applied to the mass before it starts to move?
(a) 640 N, (b) 2.5 N, (c) 160 N, (d) 40 N.
Section 3: Forces as Vectors 9

3. Forces as Vectors
If two forces act together on an object, their effect may be described
as the action of one force. This is shown in the parallelogram of forces
below (see the package Introduction to Vectors):

FTot
F1

F2
We write
F Tot = F 1 + F 2 .

We call F Tot the sum or resultant of F 1 and F 2 .

Section 3: Forces as Vectors 10

Consider the diagrams below

j j

F F F sin(θ)
θ θ
i F cos(θ) i

The force on the right has magnitude F and at an angle θ above the
i direction. It can be understood as the sum of the two individual
forces in the perpendicular x and y directions. The forces in those
directions are called the components of the force.
F = F cos(θ)i + F sin(θ)j
= Fx i + Fy j
The magnitude F and the components Fx and Fy are related by
Pythagoras’ theorem:
F 2 = Fx2 + Fy2 .
Section 3: Forces as Vectors 11

Example 5 Consider the force in the diagram below:

j

θ
i
If the magnitude of the force is F = 100 N and the angle θ = 60◦ ,
then the components of the force are:
Fx = F cos(θ) in the i direction
Fy = F sin(θ) in the j direction
Substituting the numbers gives:
Fx = 100 cos(60) = 50 N
Fy = 100 sin(60) = 87 N
It may be checked that, as expected, Fx2 + Fy2 = F 2 = 1002 .
Section 3: Forces as Vectors 12

Exercise 2. Consider the diagram below:

j
Calculate the components Fx and Fy for the
given values of the magnitude F and angle θ
θ
i
(a) F = 10 N, θ = 30◦ , (b) F = 300 N, θ = 80◦ ,
(c) F = 3 × 104 N, θ = 10◦ (d) F = 500 N, θ = 90◦

Quiz If a force may be written as

F = 120i + 50j N
what is its magnitude F ?

(a) 170 N, (b) 14,450 N, (c) 130 N, (d) 16,900 N.

It is important to be careful with the signs of the components. This
is described on the next page.
Section 3: Forces as Vectors 13

F2 F1
θ θ
i

The forces in the diagram above have the same magnitude but act in
different directions, and we represent them as follows (see the package
Introduction to Vectors):
F1 = F1 cos(θ)i + F2 sin(θ)i
F2 = −F1 cos(θ)i + F2 sin(θ)i

Note the negative sign of the i component in F 2 .

The general rules are described on the next page.

Section 3: Forces as Vectors 14

Example 6 Consider the forces in the diagrams below:

j j j

θ
i θ i θ i

a) b) c)

Diagram a) F may be written:

F = −F cos(θ)i + F sin(θ)j .
Diagram b) F may be written:
F = F cos(θ)i − F sin(θ)j .
Diagram c) F may be written:
F = −F cos(θ)i − F sin(θ)j .
Section 3: Forces as Vectors 15

Exercise 3. Write the forces in the diagram below in component

form.

j
F2 = 3 N
F3 = 2 N
45◦ 40◦
30◦ 20◦ i
F1 = 3 N
F4 = 5 N

(a) F1 , (b) F2 , (c) F3 (d) F4

Section 4: Combining Forces 16

4. Combining Forces
Adding or subtracting two forces acting in the same direction (collinear
forces) is simple: one adds or subtracts their magnitudes. This is how
to add the forces in the diagrams below:
= =
2 N + 1.5 N = 3.5 N 2 N − 1.5 N = 0.5 N

To add two forces acting in different directions it is best to calculate

their components and then add or subtract the components.

Example 7 To add the forces F 1 = 3i + 2j N and F 2 = 4i + 5j N ,

we add the individual components:
F Tot = F1 + F2
= 3i + 2j + 4i + 5j
= (3 + 4)i + (2 + 5)j = 7i + 7j N
Section 4: Combining Forces 17

One can reexpress this in terms of a magnitude and a direction as

follows. Since F Tot = 7i + 7j N both the i and j components are
positive. This means that the force points up to the right:
j
7N
F
F sin(θ)

θ
7N i
F cos(θ)
The angle is given by
7
tan(θ) = = 1 , ∴ θ = tan−1 (1) = 45◦ .
7
From Pythagoras’ theorem, the magnitude is given by
2
FTot = 72 + 72 = 98 ,
√
so that FTot = 98 ≈ 10 N.
Section 4: Combining Forces 18

Exercise 4. Combine the following forces by decomposing the given

forces into components and adding the components. Express your
answer both in component form and also in terms of a magnitude
and direction.
j j
F1 = 400 N
F2 = 250 N
45◦ 50◦
(a) (b) 50◦ 30◦ i
i
F1 = 4 N
F2 = 6 N
j
F2 = 25 N
45◦
(c) 30◦ i
F1 = 40 N
Section 5: Final Quiz 19

5. Final Quiz
Begin Quiz Choose the solutions from the options given.
1. If it is found for a rough surface that a mass of 30 kg starts to
move when a force of 60 N is applied to it, what is the coefficient
of friction of the surface?
(a) 0.02 (b) 18, 000 (c) 0.2 (d) 0.05

2. What is the magnitude of the resultant of the two forces:

F 1 = 30i − 60j N and F 2 = 10i + 30j N?
(a) 0 (b) 50 N (c) 76 N (d) 26 N

3. What angle does the resultant force of Q. 2 point in (measured

anti-clockwise from the i-axis)?
(a) 323◦ (b) 76◦ (c) 353◦ (d) 280◦

End Quiz
Solutions to Exercises 20

Solutions to Exercises
Exercise 1(a)

When the force P = 10 N is applied to a mass

N
of 100 kg resting on a rough surface with coef-
ficient of friction µ = 0.4 the normal reaction P F
N is given by
N = W = mg = 100 × 10 = 1000 N , W

and the maximum possible friction Fmax is

Fmax = µN = 0.4 × 1000 = 400 N .
Since the applied force P = 10 N is less than the maximum friction
Fmax = 400 N , the mass will not move.
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 21

Exercise 1(b)

The applied force is now P = 30 N. The

N
frictional force produced is, therefore, also
F = 30 N, which is still less than the max- P F
imum possible friction Fmax
Fmax = µN = 0.4 × 1000 = 400 N . W

Thus the mass will not move.

Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 22

Exercise 1(c)

The force applied in this case is P = 40 N

N
and the frictional force produced will be F =
40 N. This force is less than the maximum P F
possible friction Fmax
Fmax = µN = 0.4 × 1000 = 400 N . W

Thus the mass will still stay at rest.

Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 23

Exercise 1(d)

In this case, the force applied to the mass is N

P = 60 N and the resulting frictional force is P F
F = 60 N. Since this is, again, less than the
maximum possible friction Fmax = 400 N , the
mass will stay at rest. W
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 24

Exercise 2(a)

Consider the force with magnitude F = 10 N F

at an angle of θ = 30◦ to the i-direction.
θ = 30
i
The components of the force are:
√
3
Fx = F cos(θ) = 10 cos(30) = 10 × ≈ 8.66 N
2
1
Fy = F sin(θ) = 10 sin(30) = 10 × = 5N
2

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 25

Exercise 2(b)
j
The force shown in the diagram has magni-
tude F = 300 N and angle θ = 80◦
θ
i
The components of the force are:
Fx = F cos(θ) = 300 cos(80) ≈ 300 × 0.173 = 51.9 N
Fy = F sin(θ) = 300 sin(80) ≈ 300 × 0.984 = 295.2 N

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 26

Exercise 2(c)

Consider the force with magnitude F = 104 N and angle θ = 10◦ with
the i-direction.
The components of the force are:
Fx = F cos(θ) = 104 cos(10) ≈ 104 × 0.984807 = 9848.07 N
Fy = F sin(θ) = 104 sin(10) ≈ 104 × = 0.173648 = 1736.48 N

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Exercises 27

Exercise 2(d)
j
F
If the force has magnitude F = 500 N and the
angle θ with the i -direction is θ = 90◦ then
the components of the force are: θ = 90
i
Fx = F cos(θ) = 500 cos(90) = 500 × 0 = 0
Fy = F sin(θ) = 500 sin(90) = 500 N

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Exercises 28

Exercise 3(a)

j
F2 = 3 N
F3 = 2 N
45◦ 40◦
30◦ 20◦ i
F1 = 3 N
F4 = 5 N

The force F1 can be written in components as

F1 = 3 × cos(20)i − 3 × sin(20)j = (2.82i − 1.02j) N .

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 29

Exercise 3(b)

j
F2 = 3 N
F3 = 2 N
45◦ 40◦
30◦ 20◦ i
F1 = 3 N
F4 = 5 N

From the diagram above the force F2 can be written in components

as
F2 = 3 × cos(40)i + 3 × sin(40)j = (2.29i + 1.92j) N .

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 30

Exercise 3(c)

j
F2 = 3 N
F3 = 2 N
45◦ 40◦
30◦ 20◦ i
F1 = 3 N
F4 = 5 N

From the diagram above the force F3 can be written in components

as
 √ √ 
F3 = −2 × cos(45)i + 2 × sin(45)j = − 2i + 2j N .

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Exercises 31

Exercise 3(d)

j
F2 = 3 N
F3 = 2 N
45◦ 40◦
30◦ 20◦ i
F1 = 3 N
F4 = 5 N

From the diagram above the force F4 can be written in components

as
√ !
5 3 5
F4 = −5 × cos(30)i − 5 × sin(30)j = − i − j N.
2 2

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Exercises 32

Exercise 4(a)
The component forms of the forces j
F1 = 400 N
in the picture are F2 = 250 N
F 1 = 400 (cos(50)i + sin(50)j) , 45◦ 50◦
i
F 2 = 250 (− cos(45)i + sin(45)j) .

To add the forces F 1 and F 2 we add the components

F 12 = F1 + F2
= (400 cos(50) − 250 cos(45)) i + (400 sin(50) + 250 sin(45))j
= (257.1 − 176.8)i + (306.4 + 176.8)j
= 80.3i + 483.2j N

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 33

Exercise 4(b)
The component forms of the forces j
in the picture are
F 1 = 4 (cos(30)i − sin(30)j) ,
50◦ 30◦ i
F1 = 4 N
F 2 = 6 (− cos(50)i − sin(50)j) .
F2 = 6 N
The total force is thus
F 12 = F1 + F2
= (4 cos(30) − 6 cos(50)) i + (−4 sin(30) − 6 sin(50))j
= (3.46 − 3.86)i + (−2 + 4.60)j
= −0.4i + 2.6j N

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 34

Exercise 4(c)
The component forms of the forces j
in the diagram are F2 = 25 N
F 1 = 40 (cos(30)i − sin(30)j) , 45◦
30◦ i
F1 = 40 N
F 2 = 25 (− cos(45)i + sin(45)j) .

To combine forces we add the components

F 12 = F1 + F2
= (40 cos(30) − 25 cos(45)) i + (−40 sin(30) + 25 sin(45))j
= (34.6 − 17.7)i + (−20 + 17.7)j
= 16.9i − 2.3j N

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Quizzes 35

Solutions to Quizzes
Solution to Quiz:
If the measurement of the weight of a woman with mass m = 60 kg
gives the result 528 N then one can find the acceleration g on this
planet from the basic equation
F = mg.
Using this data we have
528 = 60 × g ,
528 N
∴g= = 8.8ms−2 .
60kg
This is the acceleration on the planet Venus. End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 36

Solution to Quiz:
Pushing the tabletop with force of W= 30 N in such a way that table
does not move means that the tabletop resists with exactly the same
normal reaction
W =N.
End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 37

Solution to Quiz:

When a mass of m = 16 kg is placed on a level surface with coefficient

of friction µ = 0.25 the normal reaction N is given by
N = mg = 16 × 10 = 160 N .
The maximum possible friction Fmax is
160
Fmax = µN = 0.25 × 160 = = 40 N .
4
In order to move this mass a horizontal force, P , larger than 40 N ,
should be applied. End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 38

Solution to Quiz:

The force
F = 120i + 50j N
has the following components:
Fx = 120N and Fy = 50N .

The magnitude F is therefore

q p
F = Fx2 + Fy2 = (120)2 + (50)2
p
= (120)2 + (50)2
√
= 16900 = 130 N .
End Quiz