Newton's Law of Motion: Surface Force Unaffected by Acceleration?

In summary, Newton's Law of Motion states that the force exerted on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. This law applies to everyday situations, such as pushing a cart or a book staying on a table. It is important to understand this law as it helps explain the behavior of objects in motion. There are exceptions to this law, such as in non-inertial reference frames. Newton's Law of Motion is related to other laws in physics, such as the law of conservation of momentum and energy.
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What I want to ask is the (b) part (It's one of our old MTs). In the solution given, it talks about an acceleration,a3, on the horizontal axis. However, in the equation, the surface forces acting on m1 and m2, FN1 and FN2, are not affected by this acceleration, a3. Isn't that wrong?
 

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If a3 is the acceleration of the whole system, then FN1 and FN2 will be internal forces for the whole system and will have their corresponding equal and opposite forces by Newton's 3rd law. Hence FN1 and FN2 must not be considered to find a3.
 

FAQ: Newton's Law of Motion: Surface Force Unaffected by Acceleration?

What is Newton's Law of Motion: Surface Force Unaffected by Acceleration?

Newton's Law of Motion states that the force exerted on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. In the case of a surface force, such as friction or normal force, this force is unaffected by the object's acceleration.

How does this law apply to everyday situations?

This law can be observed in many everyday situations, such as when you push a cart and it moves forward due to the force you exert on it, or when a book stays on a table even when you move it around.

Why is it important to understand this law?

Understanding this law is crucial in understanding the behavior of objects in motion. It helps us predict and explain the movement of objects and how different forces affect them.

Are there any exceptions to this law?

There are some exceptions to this law, such as in the case of non-inertial reference frames. In these frames, an object may experience an apparent force due to its acceleration, which can affect the surface force acting on it.

How does Newton's Law of Motion relate to other laws of physics?

Newton's Law of Motion is one of the three laws of motion that form the basis of classical mechanics. It is also related to other laws such as the law of conservation of momentum and the law of conservation of energy.

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