Free Body Diagrams

Front

What is a Free Body Diagram?

Back

A graphical representation used to visualize the forces acting on an object.

Front

What does the normal force do?

Back

It acts perpendicular to the surface and supports the weight of an object resting on it.

Front

What is the weight force?

Back

The force due to gravity acting on an object, calculated as mass times the acceleration due to gravity (W = mg).

Front

What is frictional force?

Back

The force that opposes the motion of an object in contact with a surface.

Front

What is applied force?

Back

The force that is applied to an object by a person or another object.

Front

What is net force?

Back

The overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces are combined.

Front

What does it mean for an object to be in equilibrium?

Back

It means that the net force acting on the object is zero, resulting in no acceleration.

Front

What is tension force?

Back

The force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends.

Front

What is drag force?

Back

The resistance force caused by the motion of a body through a fluid (like air or water).

Front

What is static friction?

Back

The frictional force that prevents two surfaces from sliding past each other.