Force & Free Body Diagrams

Front

What is a force?

Back

A force is a push or pull that can cause an object to move, change direction, or change shape.

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.

Front

What is the normal force?

Back

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

Front

What is gravity?

Back

Gravity is a non-contact force that attracts two bodies towards each other, commonly experienced as the force that pulls objects towards the Earth.

Front

What is friction?

Back

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object, occurring when two surfaces are in contact.

Front

What is an applied force?

Back

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

Front

What is tension force?

Back

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

Front

What is a contact force?

Back

A contact force is a force that occurs when two objects are physically touching each other.

Front

What is a non-contact force?

Back

A non-contact force is a force that acts on an object without physical contact, such as gravitational force or magnetic force.

Front

What is net force?

Back

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