FREE BODY DIAGRAM

It is a diagram that represents all the forces acting upon an object.

Arrows represents the forces.

The force arrows …

-are labeled according to type,
-are pointing in the direction of the force
-and have the length that is proportion to their relative strength
(longer arrows are stronger forces)

Steps to drawing a free body diagram:

1. Determine the types of forces acting on the object.

2. Draw an arrow for each force, directed in the direction that it acts.
3. Label the arrow to indicate it’s type.
4. Size the arrow to indicate it’s strength relative to any oppositely-directed force. A longer arrow
indicates a stronger force.

Example:

A book is at rest on a table top. Diagram the forces acting on the book.

The forces are balanced (they cancel each other out)

A book is attached to a strong hanging from the ceiling.

An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance. Draw a free-body diagram
showing the forces involved.

A skydiver is falling with a constant velocity. Consider air resistance. Draw a free-body diagram for
the skydiver.

Gravity pulls down on

the skydiver, while air
resistance pushes up as
she falls.

A man drags a sled across loosely packed snow with a rightward acceleration. Draw a free-body
diagram of the forces acting on the sled.

The rightward force arrow

points to the right. Friction
slows his progress and pulls
in the opposite direction.
Since there is not information
that we are in a blizzard,
normal forces still apply as
does gravitational force since
we are on planet Earth.
 EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2
It's Friday night and Skyler has been assigned the noble task of baby-sitting Casey, his 2-year-old
brother. He puts a crash helmet on Casey, places him in the red wagon and takes him on a stroll
through the neighborhood. As Skyler starts across the street, he exerts a 50.0 N forward force on
the wagon. There is a 30.0 N resistance force and the wagon and Casey have a combined weight
of 304.0 N. Construct a free body diagram depicting the types of forces acting upon the wagon.
Then determine the net force acting on the wagon.