Free Body Diagrams

Front

What is a free body diagram?

Back

A free body diagram is a graphical representation used to visualize the forces acting on an object. It shows the object as a dot and the forces as arrows pointing away from the object.

Front

What are the four fundamental forces that can act on an object in a free body diagram?

Back

The four fundamental forces are gravitational force, normal force, frictional force, and applied force.

Front

What is the role of the normal force in a free body diagram?

Back

The normal force is the support force exerted upon an object that is in contact with a surface. It acts perpendicular to the surface.

Front

How does frictional force affect motion in a free body diagram?

Back

Frictional force opposes the motion of an object. It acts parallel to the surface and can either prevent motion or slow down an object.

Front

What is tension force and when is it present in a free body diagram?

Back

Tension force is the force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends. It is present in scenarios involving pulleys or hanging objects.

Front

How do you determine the net force acting on an object using a free body diagram?

Back

The net force is determined by vectorially adding all the forces acting on the object. Forces in opposite directions are subtracted, while forces in the same direction are added.

Front

What is the difference between static and kinetic friction in the context of free body diagrams?

Back

Static friction acts on an object at rest and prevents it from starting to move, while kinetic friction acts on an object that is already in motion, opposing its movement.

Front

What is the significance of the direction of arrows in a free body diagram?

Back

The direction of arrows in a free body diagram indicates the direction of the forces acting on the object. The length of the arrows represents the magnitude of the forces.

Front

How does gravitational force appear in a free body diagram?

Back

Gravitational force is represented by an arrow pointing downward, indicating the force of gravity acting on the object's mass.

Front

What is an applied force in the context of free body diagrams?

Back

An applied force is a force that is applied to an object by a person or another object. It can cause the object to move or change its motion.