How do Newton's laws of motion apply to the motion of an animal such as a cat running?

Answer 1

The force you exert through your legs onto the ground (as well as a lean forward to create an angle other than 90) will denote a horizontal acceleration, allowing you to run. Newton's 2nd law is:

F_net= m*a

Or,

Force = mass*acceleration

The speed in which you run (well, accelerate) is directly proportional to the force you exert and inversely proportional to your mass.

Answer 2

Newtons First Law of motion says An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless a net force acts on it.

so in running it will take a lot more force or energy to start then if you were to coast after you already accelerated to a full run, you will also have to apply force to slow yourself down and stop after you have started running

when your running because of friction there will always be a force backwards which is why you always need to apply energy even after you have started moving

Answer 3

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." This is hard to see in most cases, of course, but what it means is that the cat has to push the ground backwards with equal force to get himself moving forwards. If you have ever seen a cat start from a throw rug, pillow, or other movable surface, you will see that the rug is thrown backwards as the cat is starting forwards. When the cat is starting from a surface that is fixed to the house, of course the entire house gets pushed, but as it is so massive, the effect on the house is minimal.

"A body in motion remains in motion, and a body at rest remains at rest, unless acted upon by some force." Once a cat is at speed, in order to slow down or change direction he has to push against something. Again, have him run onto the throw rug, and while he's there, have him change direction. The throw rug will move out from under him, showing the direction of the force applied. For an outside force, imagine him running onto a polished hardwood floor. Because he can't get a grip on the floor, he cannot exert a force to change direction, and he will continue moving at the same speed and direction, roughly, until force is applied to him by the wall he runs into.

Answer 4

Newtons Laws apply to the motion of an animal such as a cat that is running because an object at rest will remain at rest unless it is acted on by an unbalanced force. A cat running remains in motion until it becomes tired or it is stopped by another force.