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Objectives
Free-body Identify normal forces.

diagrams Draw a free-body diagram with

forces in vertical and/or horizontal
directions.

Calculate the net force on an object

acted on by forces in vertical and/or
horizontal directions.

Assessment Physics terms

A 10 kg dumbbell resting on a table
net force
is partly supported by a spring that
pulls upward with a force of 50 N. normal force
1. Draw the free-body diagram for free-body diagram
the dumbbell.

2. What is the magnitude of the net

force acting on the dumbbell?

3. What force does the table exert

on the dumbbell to hold it up?

Free-body diagrams Free-body diagrams

If you know the forces acting A free-body diagram is a
on an object, you can predict sketch of an object isolated
its motion. from its surroundings.

Free-body diagrams are All contacts with the object are

invaluable tools for figuring replaced by the forces exerted
out the magnitudes and ON the object.
directions of the forces that FN1 FN1
act on an object. Forces are drawn as arrows.

FN2 FN2
Fw Fw

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Free-body diagrams Weight

Next, draw the forces acting ON
the object, starting with weight.
Real object

Free-body mg
diagram
The weight vector is drawn from
the center of mass of the object,
Start a free-body diagram by drawing an outline of the object. and points straight down.

Center of mass Weight acts at center of mass

The center of mass is Draw the weight force
the balance point on a free-body diagram
around which all of an approximately at the
objects mass is center of mass of the
equally distributed. object.

It is at the center of
symmetrical shapes.

Find an objects center of mass by

hanging it from three different places.

Applied forces Normal or support forces

F This spring F
pulls upward
on the object.

FN FN
mg mg
Applied forces are drawn at Surfaces that contact the object
the point where they act, exert a normal or support force, FN.
and in the correct direction.

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Direction of the normal force Direction of the normal force

F F

FN

FN FN FN FN
mg mg
Surfaces always push, never pull. Normal means perpendicular.
The table pushes up on the barbell, Normal forces always point at
so the normal forces point upward. right angles to the surface.

Free-body diagrams Identify all the forces

This is a complete free-body diagram. On a free-body diagram, include
F every force that acts ON the object: F
It contains ALL the forces that act weight, normal forces, and applied
ON the object. forces from springs, ropes, and
other sources.
Every force is identified with a
label and direction. The isolated object acts exactly as
FN FN it did before being removed from FN FN
It does not have too much detail
mg contact with the environment. mg
a rough sketch is all you need.

More on the normal force Styles of free-body diagrams

Every contact with a surface There are two different styles you may see for drawing free-body diagrams.
creates a normal force.

Normal forces may be vertical,

horizontal, or act at an angle.

Notice how these normal forces

are always perpendicular to the
surfaces that applied them. A block of mass m sits on
a floor partially suspended
by two springs.
Examples of normal forces
Be sure to assign different names
to different normal forces!

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The outline method Force is a vector

This program uses the outline method. To solve force problems,
you have to choose which
directions will be positive
and which will be negative.

Free-body diagrams used in

engineering, such as for
building codes, are done with
the outline method, because
the positions of forces matter.

Force is a vector The net force

To solve force problems, In most situations there are many
you have to choose which forces acting at once. F
directions will be positive
and which will be negative. Objects respond to the net force.

This choice is arbitrary. In physics net means total,

Choose the positive taking account of directions.
direction that makes the FN FN
problem easiest to solve. mg
Always make a diagram to
remind yourself which
direction is positive!

The net force The net force

In most situations there are many In most situations there are many
forces acting at once. F forces acting at once. F
Objects respond to the net force. Objects respond to the net force.

In physics net means total, In physics net means total,

taking account of directions. taking account of directions.
FN FN FN FN
mg mg
What is the net force What is the net force
acting on the dumbbell? acting on the dumbbell? Fnet = F + 2FN - Fw

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Equilibrium Find the normal force

Equilibrium exists when the The box shown is at rest, so Fnet = 0. What is FN in these examples?
net force is zero. F
Fnet = 0 Pulled up with Pressed down Pressed against the
a force of 4 N. with a 4 N force ceiling with a 15 N force
In equilibrium there is no
change in motion.
FN F = 4 N. F=4N
FN
An object at rest stays at rest.
mg
The dumbbell is at rest so the mg = 10 N mg = 10 N mg = 10 N
net force on it must be zero: Fnet = F + 2FN - Fw= 0 F = 15 N.

Find the normal force Equilibrium problems

Notice: there is no formula for calculating the normal force. An object at rest is in equilibrium.
Its magnitude depends on the situation. Therefore the net force is zero.

Fnet = 0
Pulled up with Pressed down Pressed against the
a force of 4 N. with a 4 N force ceiling with a 15 N force
What is the tension in the ropes
FN = 5 N. that support the gymnast?
F = 4 N. F=4N

mg = 10 N mg = 10 N mg = 10 N
F = 15 N.
FN = 6 N.
FN = 14 N.

Equilibrium problems Solving equilibrium problems

The gymnast is centered, so we can Here are the problem-solving steps.
assume the forces from the ropes are
equal. Therefore we give them the 1. Draw the free-body diagram of
same name, F. the object.

2. Name all the forces.

3. Set the net force to zero, taking

account of +/- directions.

4. Solve for the unknown force.

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Test your knowledge Test your knowledge

Two masses are at rest, connected by a Two masses are at rest, connected by a
rope that passes over two frictionless rope that passes over two frictionless
pulleys. The string tension T equals m2g. pulleys. The string tension T equals m2g.

Which of these free body diagrams best Which of these free body diagrams best
represents the forces acting on mass m1? represents the forces acting on mass m1?

Diagram A is best.
Diagram (B) omits the normal force
from the floor.
Diagram (C) incorrectly shows the
string tension acting downward.

Assessment Assessment
F = 50 N
A 10 kg dumbbell resting on a table A 10 kg dumbbell resting on a table
is partly supported by a spring that is partly supported by a spring that
pulls upward with a force of 50 N. pulls upward with a force of 50 N. 10 kg

1. Draw the free-body diagram for 1. Draw the free-body diagram for
the dumbbell. the dumbbell. FN FN
mg
2. What is the magnitude of the net
force acting on the dumbbell?

Assessment Assessment
F = 50 N F = 50 N
A 10 kg dumbbell resting on a table A 10 kg dumbbell resting on a table
is partly supported by a spring that is partly supported by a spring that
pulls upward with a force of 50 N. 10 kg pulls upward with a force of 50 N. 10 kg

1. Draw the free-body diagram for 1. Draw the free-body diagram for
the dumbbell. FN FN the dumbbell. FN FN
mg mg
2. What is the magnitude of the net 2. What is the magnitude of the net
force acting on the dumbbell? force acting on the dumbbell?
Zero. It is at rest (in equilibrium). Zero. It is at rest (in equilibrium)

3. What force does the table exert

on the dumbbell to hold it up?

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Assessment
F = 50 N
A 10 kg dumbbell resting on a table
is partly supported by a spring that
pulls upward with a force of 50 N. 10 kg

1. Draw the free-body diagram for

the dumbbell. FN FN
mg
2. What is the magnitude of the net
force acting on the dumbbell? Fw = mg = (10 kg)(9.8 N/kg) = 98 N
Zero. It is at rest (in equilibrium)
Fnet = 50 N + 2FN - 98 N = 0
3. What force does the table exert 2FN = 98 N 50 N = 48 N.
on the dumbbell to hold it up?