Newton's Laws
PHYS 201 · Module 2
This module connects forces to motion through Newton's laws. Students learn to draw free-body diagrams, apply Newton's second law, analyze friction, and understand circular motion as accelerated motion.
Lessons in this module
The three laws of motion
Newton's three laws form the foundation of classical dynamics. This lesson presents the laws in calculus-based form and explains inertia, net force, and interaction pairs.
Free-body diagrams and applying Newton's second law
Free-body diagrams organize the forces acting on a chosen object. This lesson presents a systematic method for turning physical situations into Newton's second-law equations.
Friction: static and kinetic
Friction is a contact force that resists relative motion or impending motion. This lesson explains static friction, kinetic friction, limiting friction, and common applications.
Circular motion and centripetal acceleration
An object moving in a circle accelerates even if its speed is constant because its velocity direction changes. This lesson explains centripetal acceleration, centripetal force, and applications.
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