free-body diagram

(noun)

A free body diagram, also called a force diagram, is a pictorial representation often used by physicists and engineers to analyze the forces acting on a body of interest.

Related Terms

Examples of free-body diagram in the following topics:

  • Trigonometry

    • In physics, most problems are solved much more easily when a free body diagram is used.
    • Free body diagrams use geometry and vectors to visually represent the problem.
    • When people draw free body diagrams, often not everything is perfectly parallel and perpendicular.
    • This exercise involves drawing the free body diagram.
    • Removing all other elements from the image helps produce the finished free body diagram .

  • General Problem-Solving Tricks

    • Free body diagrams use geometry and vectors to visually represent the problem.
    • A simple free body diagram, shown above, of a block on a ramp illustrates this.
    • In physics, most problems are solved much more easily when a free body diagram is used.
    • To draw a free body diagram, do not worry about drawing it to scale, this will just be what you use to help yourself identify the problems.
    • What to include: Since a free body diagram represents the body itself and the external forces on it.

  • Forces in Two Dimensions

    • Free-body diagrams can be used as a convenient way to keep track of forces acting on a system .
    • Ideally, these diagrams are drawn with the angles and relative magnitudes of the force vectors preserved so that graphical vector addition can be done to determine the net force.
    • Free-body diagrams of an object on a flat surface and an inclined plane.

  • A General Approach

  • Problem-Solving Techniques

    • The strategy includes a free-body diagram for the pole, the system of interest.
    • Using the definition of torque (τ = rFsinθ), noting that θ = 90º, and substituting known values, we obtain:(0.900 m)(FR) = (0.600 m)(mg)Therefore:FR = (0.667)(5.00 kg)(9.80m/s2) = 32.7 NSolution for (b)The first condition for equilibrium is based on the free-body diagram in the figure.

  • Applications of Newton's Laws

    • (b) The free-body diagram for the ship contains only forces acting in the plane of the water.

  • Banked and Unbacked Highway Curves

    • Above is a free body diagram for a car on a frictionless banked curve.

  • Position, Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration as Vectors

    • In a free body diagram, for example, of an object falling, it would be helpful to use an acceleration vector near the object to denote its acceleration towards the ground.

  • Evaporation

    • Evaporation is the process of molecules on a liquid's surface achieving sufficient energy to break free of the liquid and become gas.
    • This is why evaporating sweat cools the human body.

  • Free-Falling Objects

    • Free fall is the motion of a body where its weight is the only force acting on an object.
    • Free fall is the motion of a body where its weight is the only force acting on an object.
    • Once the object is in motion, the object is in free-fall.
    • The kinematic equations for objects experiencing free fall are:
    • The free fall would end once the propulsion devices turned on.