Free-body diagrams are one of the most useful tools in mechanics. They catalog all the forces acting on an object, and provide you with the necessary representation to make use of the [[183_notes:momentum_principle|Momentum Principle]] (i.e., to find the direction of the net force acting on the object). In these notes, you will read how to construct a free-body diagram and how it can help you reason about the direction of the net force on an object.
+
Free-body diagrams are one of the most useful tools in mechanics. They catalog all the forces acting on an object, and provide you with the necessary representation to make use of the [[183_notes:momentum_principle|Momentum Principle]] (i.e., to find the direction of the net force acting on the object). **In these notes, you will read how to construct a free-body diagram and how it can help you reason about the direction of the net force on an object.
+
**
=== Lecture Video ===
=== Lecture Video ===
Line 17:
Line 17:
When you are trying to determine the motion of a system, it is important to determine the [[183_notes:momentum_principle#net_force|net force acting on the system]]. In physics, we often model systems as "point-particles", that is, we neglect the internal structure and extent of the system -- crushing it down to a single point that experiences the same net force as the real system. //It is for this point particle that we draw the free-body diagram -- a representation of all the forces acting on the system.//
When you are trying to determine the motion of a system, it is important to determine the [[183_notes:momentum_principle#net_force|net force acting on the system]]. In physics, we often model systems as "point-particles", that is, we neglect the internal structure and extent of the system -- crushing it down to a single point that experiences the same net force as the real system. //It is for this point particle that we draw the free-body diagram -- a representation of all the forces acting on the system.//
-
{{ fbds-001.png?300}}
+
{{ 183_notes:latinbox_weekfour.png?300}}
To be concrete, consider a book lying on a table as shown in the figure to the right. The two interactions the book experiences are with the Earth and the table. We quantify those interactions as the force that the table exerts upward on the book (→Ftable), and the force that the Earth exerts downward on the book (→FEarth). In this case, the book is not changing its momentum (Δ→pbook=0); in fact, it's not moving at all. So the [[183_notes:momentum_principle|momentum principle]] tell us that the strength of those interactions (forces) are the same.
To be concrete, consider a book lying on a table as shown in the figure to the right. The two interactions the book experiences are with the Earth and the table. We quantify those interactions as the force that the table exerts upward on the book (→Ftable), and the force that the Earth exerts downward on the book (→FEarth). In this case, the book is not changing its momentum (Δ→pbook=0); in fact, it's not moving at all. So the [[183_notes:momentum_principle|momentum principle]] tell us that the strength of those interactions (forces) are the same.
Line 28:
Line 28:
==== Hanging Ball ====
==== Hanging Ball ====
-
Consider a ball hanging from a wire attached to the ceiling. The forces acting on the system consisting of the ball are due to the Earth (→FEarth) and the wire (→Fwire). The ball experiences no motion (Δ→pball=0) and thus the net force acting on the ball is zero. Hence, the two forces acting on the ball (due to different objects) are the same magnitude, but point in opposite directions. To be clear, [[183_notes:gravitation#newton_s_3rd_law|these forces are not Newton's 3rd Law pairs]] because they arise from different interactions the ball experiences. A free-body diagram that represents this situation is shown below.
+
Consider a ball hanging from a wire attached to the ceiling. The forces acting on the system consisting of the ball are due to the Earth (→FEarth) and the wire (→Fwire). The ball experiences no motion (Δ→pball=0) //and thus the net force acting on the ball is zero.// Hence, the two forces acting on the ball (due to different objects) are the same magnitude, but point in opposite directions. To be clear, [[183_notes:gravitation#newton_s_3rd_law|these forces are not Newton's 3rd Law pairs]] because they arise from different interactions the ball experiences. A free-body diagram that represents this situation is shown below.
-
{{ fbds-007.png?600 }}
+
{{ 183_notes:phy_freebody_1.png?600 }}
The above free-body diagram is the same for a a ball being lowered or raised at //constant speed.// Can you see why?
The above free-body diagram is the same for a a ball being lowered or raised at //constant speed.// Can you see why?