[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-665524-105":59,"doc-detail-665524-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","57-drawing-free-body-diagrams","5.7 - Drawing Free-Body Diagrams","","5.7 section explains how to describe and analyze physical situations using free-body diagrams. It defines that a free-body diagram includes only external forces acting on the chosen body, represented as vectors, and distinguishes equilibrium cases (Fnet = 0) from accelerating cases (Fnet ≠ 0). A step-by-step problem-solving strategy covers selecting the object or point, listing relevant forces (normal, friction, tension, spring, weight, applied force), resolving vectors into x- and y-components, and drawing separate diagrams for multiple bodies. Worked examples apply the method to a sled on an incline and blocks on an inclined plane.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/57-drawing-free-body-diagrams/665524/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/57-drawing-free-body-diagrams/665524.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"pixelkiddo","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-10-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":19},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is included in a free-body diagram, and what must be excluded?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"A free-body diagram includes only the external forces acting on the body of interest. Forces exerted by the body on its environment and the net force are excluded, and never both forces from an action-reaction pair are included.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How do you determine whether to use Newton’s first or second law?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"After drawing an accurate free-body diagram, use Newton’s first law if the body is in equilibrium (balanced forces, Fnet = 0). Use Newton’s second law if the body is accelerating (unbalanced forces, Fnet ≠ 0).",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What are the key steps for constructing free-body diagrams?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Draw and isolate the object (as a point if treated as a particle), include all external forces as vectors, resolve forces into x- and y-components when helpful, and draw separate free-body diagrams for each body when multiple objects are involved.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},665524,1793304696,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":19,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":24,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":129,"read_time":143},962090883892,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/e00115db34f3e0f11b?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1790152879550218658","5.7 | Drawing Free-Body Diagrams  \n\n| Learning Objectives |\n| --- |\n| By the end of the section, you will be able to:\u003Cbr>• Explain the rules for drawing a free-body diagram\u003Cbr>• Construct free-body diagrams for different situations |\n\nThe first step in describing and analyzing most phenomena in physics involves the careful drawing of a free-body diagram. Free-body diagrams have been used in examples throughout this chapter. Remember that a free-body diagram must onlyinclude the external forces acting on the body of interest. Once we have drawn an accurate free-body diagram, we can apply Newton’s first law if the body is in equilibrium (balanced forces; that is, F net= 0 ) or Newton’s second law if the body is accelerating (unbalanced force; that is, F net ≠ 0 ) .  \nIn Forces, we gave a brief problem-solving strategy to help you understand free-body diagrams. Here, we add some details to the strategy that will help you in constructing these diagrams.  \nProblem-Solving Strategy: Constructing Free-Body Diagrams   \nObserve the following rules when constructing a free-body diagram:  \n1. Draw the object under consideration; it does not have to be artistic. At first, you may want to draw a circle around the object of interest to be sure you focus on labeling the forces acting on the object. If you are treating the object as a particle (no size or shape and no rotation), represent the object as a point. We often place this point at the origin of an xy-coordinate system.  \n2. Include all forces that act on the object, representing these forces as vectors. Consider the types of forces described in Common Forces—normal force, friction, tension, and spring force—as well as weight and applied force. Do not include the net force on the object. With the exception of gravity, all of the forces we have discussed require direct contact with the object. However, forces that the object exerts on its environment must not be included. We never include both forces of an action-reaction pair.  \n3. Convert the free-body diagram into a more detailed diagram showing the x- and y-components of a given force (this is often helpful when solving a problem using Newton’s first or second law) . In this case, place a squiggly line through the original vector to show that it is no longer in play—it has been replaced by its x-andy-components.  \n4. If there are two or more objects, or bodies, in the problem, draw a separate free-body diagram for each object. Note: If there is acceleration, we do not directly include it in the free-body diagram; however, it may help to indicate acceleration outside the free-body diagram. You can label it in a different color to indicate that it is separate from the free-body diagram.  \nLet’s apply the problem-solving strategy in drawing a free-body diagram for a sled. In Figure 5.31(a), a sled is pulled by force P at an angle of 30° . In part (b), we show a free-body diagram for this situation, as described by steps 1 and 2 of the problem-solving strategy. In part (c), we show all forces in terms of their x-andy-components, in keeping with step 3.  \nFigure 5.31 (a) A moving sled is shown as (b) a free-body diagram and (c) a free-body diagram with force components.  \nExample 5.14  \nTwo Blocks on an Inclined Plane  \nConstruct the free-body diagram for object A and object B in Figure 5.32.  \nStrategy  \nWe follow the four steps listed in the problem-solving strategy.  \nSolution  \nWe start by creating a diagram for the first object of interest. In Figure 5.32(a), object A is isolated (circled) and represented by a dot.  \nFigure 5.32 (a) The free-body diagram for isolated object A. (b) The free-body diagram for isolated object B. Comparing the two drawings, we see that friction acts in the opposite direction in the two figures. Because object A experiences a force that tends to pull it to the right, friction must act to the left. Because object B experiences a component of its weight that pulls it to the left, down the incline, the fric","cbCainIID4ifgRrn","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainIID4ifgRrn","pdf",424416,"English","# 5.7 Drawing Free-Body Diagrams\n## Learning Objectives\n## Rules and Problem-Solving Strategy\n## Example 5.14 Two Blocks on an Inclined Plane\n## Example 5.15 Two Blocks in Contact","[{\"question\":\"What is included in a free-body diagram, and what must be excluded?\",\"answer\":\"A free-body diagram includes only the external forces acting on the body of interest. Forces exerted by the body on its environment and the net force are excluded, and never both forces from an action-reaction pair are included.\"},{\"question\":\"How do you determine whether to use Newton’s first or second law?\",\"answer\":\"After drawing an accurate free-body diagram, use Newton’s first law if the body is in equilibrium (balanced forces, Fnet = 0). Use Newton’s second law if the body is accelerating (unbalanced forces, Fnet ≠ 0).\"},{\"question\":\"What are the key steps for constructing free-body diagrams?\",\"answer\":\"Draw and isolate the object (as a point if treated as a particle), include all external forces as vectors, resolve forces into x- and y-components when helpful, and draw separate free-body diagrams for each body when multiple objects are involved.\"}]","5.7 - Drawing Free-Body Diagrams | PDF",13]