A force is a push or pull acting upon an object as a result of its interaction with another object.

Free-body diagrams

Free-body diagrams are pictures that show the size and direction of all
forces acting on an object.

This diagram shows four forces acting upon an object. There aren’t always
four forces, for example, there could be one, two, or three forces.

Steps to drawing a free body diagram

1. Pick one object to analyze

2. Draw a box to represent the object
3. Draw an arrow to represent each force acting on the object
4. Make sure the arrow shows the direction and relative size of the
force

Types of Force Symbol Description

1. Applied Force An applied force is a force that is applied to an object
by a person or another object. If a person is pushing a
Fapp desk across the room, then there is an applied force
acting upon the object. The applied force is the force
exerted on the desk by the person.
2. Gravity Force The force of gravity is the force with which the earth,
moon, or other massively large object attracts another
(also known as Weight) Fgrav object towards itself. By definition, this is the weight
of the object. All objects upon earth experience a
force of gravity that is directed "downward" towards
the center of the earth
3. Normal Force The normal force is the support force exerted upon an
object that is in contact with another stable object.
Fnorm For example, if a book is resting upon a surface, then
the surface is exerting an upward force upon the book
in order to support the weight of the book.
4. Friction Force The friction force is the force exerted by a surface as
an object moves across it or makes an effort to move
Ffrict across it. It often opposes the motion of an object. For
example, if a book slides across the surface of a desk,
then the desk exerts a friction force in the opposite
direction of its motion.
5. Air Resistance Force The air resistance is a special type of frictional force
Fair that acts upon objects as they travel through the air.
The force of air resistance is often observed to oppose
the motion of an object.
6. Tension Force The tension force is the force that is transmitted
through a string, rope, cable or wire when it is pulled
Ftens tight by forces acting from opposite ends. The tension
force is directed along the length of the wire and pulls
equally on the objects on the opposite ends of the
wire.
1. A book is at rest on a tabletop. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:

2. A gymnast holding onto a bar, is suspended motionless in mid-air. The bar is supported by two
ropes that attach to the ceiling. Diagram the forces acting on the combination of gymnast and bar. A
free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:

3. An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this
situation looks like this:

4. A flying squirrel is gliding (no wing flaps) from a tree to the ground at constant velocity. Consider
air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:

5. A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it across a desk with a rightward
acceleration. Consider frictional forces. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation
looks like this:

6. A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it across a desk at constant velocity.
Consider frictional forces. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:
7. A college student rests a backpack upon his shoulder. The pack is suspended motionless by one
strap from one shoulder. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:

8. A skydiver is descending with a constant velocity. Consider air resistance. A free-body diagram for
this situation looks like this:

9. A force is applied to the right to drag a sled across loosely packed snow with a rightward
acceleration. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:

10. A football is moving upwards towards its peak after having been booted by the punter. Neglect
air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:

11. A car is coasting to the right and slowing down. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for
this situation looks like this: