Free-body Diagrams
A free-body diagram identifies all the forces acting on a body and their directions. Without a free-body diagram to guide you, solving a Newtonian mechanics problem is difficult and may lead to mistakes.
Steps to drawing a proper free-body diagram.
- Separate the body from its supports and other bodies that it contacts.
- The body orientation should be the same orientation that it was in the supports.
- Draw a coordinate system.
- Try to orient one of the axes in the direction of motion.
- Draw all the forces that are acting on the body.
- Do not include redundant forces.
