Question
Identify three (3) action/reaction force pairs. Then draw a force diagram to show the strength and direction of the forces on the vehicle. Use Newton’s laws to interpret the force diagram and identify the direction of the vehicle’s motion. Use the Draw and Write worksheet.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
### Action/Reaction Force Pairs
1. **Action: The vehicle's tires push backwards on the road.**
- **Reaction: The road pushes forwards on the tires.**
2. **Action: The vehicle's weight pulls it downwards due to gravity.**
- **Reaction: The ground exerts an equal and opposite force upwards on the vehicle (normal force).**
3. **Action: The vehicle's engine provides thrust.**
- **Reaction: The vehicle pushes exhaust gases backwards which propel the vehicle forward.**
### Force Diagram
Below is a simple representation of forces acting on a vehicle in motion:
```
↑ Normal Force
|
Weight ⟶ [Vehicle] ⟵ Thrust (forward motion)
|
↓ Gravity Force
```
In a more detailed notation:
- **Weight (Gravity)**: Acts downward toward the center of the Earth.
- **Normal Force**: Acts upward, perpendicular to the surface.
- **Thrust**: Acts horizontally forward as a result of the engine's action.
- **Friction**: Acts horizontally back on the tires (which we can add to show resistance).
### Interpreting the Force Diagram Using Newton's Laws
1. **Newton's First Law (Inertia)**: A vehicle at rest will stay at rest and a vehicle in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. If the thrust force exceeds the friction force, the vehicle will accelerate.
2. **Newton's Second Law (F = ma)**: The net force on the vehicle determines its acceleration. If the thrust force (forward) is greater than the friction force (backward), the net force will be forward, causing the vehicle to accelerate in that direction.
3. **Newton's Third Law (Action-Reaction)**: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The action of the tires pushing backward against the road is met with an equal force of the road pushing the vehicle forward.
### Vehicle Motion Direction
Given these forces, if the thrust force applied by the engine is greater than the friction force opposing the motion, the vehicle will move forward in the direction of the thrust. If the forces are balanced, the vehicle will maintain its current velocity, and if friction is greater, the vehicle will decelerate.
In summary, the direction of the vehicle's motion will be forward if the resultant force (thrust - friction) is positive, in accordance with Newton's Second Law.
1. **Action: The vehicle's tires push backwards on the road.**
- **Reaction: The road pushes forwards on the tires.**
2. **Action: The vehicle's weight pulls it downwards due to gravity.**
- **Reaction: The ground exerts an equal and opposite force upwards on the vehicle (normal force).**
3. **Action: The vehicle's engine provides thrust.**
- **Reaction: The vehicle pushes exhaust gases backwards which propel the vehicle forward.**
### Force Diagram
Below is a simple representation of forces acting on a vehicle in motion:
```
↑ Normal Force
|
Weight ⟶ [Vehicle] ⟵ Thrust (forward motion)
|
↓ Gravity Force
```
In a more detailed notation:
- **Weight (Gravity)**: Acts downward toward the center of the Earth.
- **Normal Force**: Acts upward, perpendicular to the surface.
- **Thrust**: Acts horizontally forward as a result of the engine's action.
- **Friction**: Acts horizontally back on the tires (which we can add to show resistance).
### Interpreting the Force Diagram Using Newton's Laws
1. **Newton's First Law (Inertia)**: A vehicle at rest will stay at rest and a vehicle in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. If the thrust force exceeds the friction force, the vehicle will accelerate.
2. **Newton's Second Law (F = ma)**: The net force on the vehicle determines its acceleration. If the thrust force (forward) is greater than the friction force (backward), the net force will be forward, causing the vehicle to accelerate in that direction.
3. **Newton's Third Law (Action-Reaction)**: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The action of the tires pushing backward against the road is met with an equal force of the road pushing the vehicle forward.
### Vehicle Motion Direction
Given these forces, if the thrust force applied by the engine is greater than the friction force opposing the motion, the vehicle will move forward in the direction of the thrust. If the forces are balanced, the vehicle will maintain its current velocity, and if friction is greater, the vehicle will decelerate.
In summary, the direction of the vehicle's motion will be forward if the resultant force (thrust - friction) is positive, in accordance with Newton's Second Law.