Scribd
Upload
13 views

Lesson6studysheet 2

physics

Uploaded by

gracia t
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
13 views

Lesson6studysheet 2

physics

Uploaded by

gracia t
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Application of Newton’s Laws

Free Body Diagrams

Solving problems in dynamics usually involves the selection and analysis of the forces acting on
the objects. This analysis process can be simplified by constructing force diagrams. Constructing
free body diagrams (FBD) involves selecting forces and representing these forces as vectors.

To construct a free body diagram:

1--Draw a point or a box to represent the object(s) in the problem.


2--Represent each force acting on a given body as an arrow.
3--Draw all forces from the center of the body and label each force.
4--If several objects are involved in the problem, draw a FBD for each object separately.

Example: A hanging weight of 150N pulls a box up an inclined plane. Friction acts on the 50N box
as it moves up the 30 degree incline.

Step 1: Draw a point or a box to represent the object(s) in the problem.

Step 2: Represent each force acting on a given body as an arrow.

W weight (gravity) down


N normal force of inclined plane on box perpendicular to plane
Ffr friction opposite to motion
T tension parallel to incline and “up”

Step 3: Draw all forces from the center of the body and label each force.
N
T

Ffr

Step 4: Draw a separate FBD for the second object.


T

W
Additional Examples

N
Ff
T
T

W1

W2

N1 N2

Ff r1 T1 T2
Ffr2

W1 W2

N
An object of mass m is being pulled by a rope with
tension T. Choose a coordinate system. Draw a free- T
body diagram showing only the forces acting on
r r
mass m. Apply F = ma to write a system of
equations. Solve the equations.

W
x: T = max
y: N – W = may

You might also like