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Free-Body Diagrams
Use on-screen controls to construct the free-body diagrams for
each of 12 physical situations. Earn a “star" for each correct diagram.
Think Physics!
Start
Version 2.1
Situation 7
Situation 11
Situation 1
Situation 6
Situation 10
Situation 5
In this activity, you will construct free-body diagrams
for 12 different situations. Once you have correctly
constructed the free-body diagram, a star will appear next to the
button for that situation.
Situation 9
Situation 4
Situation 3
Situation 12
Situation 8
Situation 2
Situation 1
0
Normal
A rightward-moving car is skidding to a stop across a level
roadway with locked wheels. Ignore air resistance.
Sorry. Your free-body diagram is NOT correct.
The force types that you have chosen are correct. The errors pertain to
the sizes of your forces. Re-read the question; think about how the
direction of the acceleration relates to the relative size of two
opposing forces. Then try again.
Gravity
Check
A rightward force is applied to a crate to push it across the
floor at a constant speed. Ignore air resistance.
A football is moving upward and rightward towards the peak of its
trajectory. Ignore air resistance.
None
Air Resistance
Identify the rightward force:
The cabin of a small freight elevator is secured to a motor by a
cable and is moving upward with a constant speed. There is no contact
between the cabin and the elevator shaft. Ignore air resistance.
Spring
Select a button to add, remove or change a force. Use the Check
button to evaluate your FBD.
Tension
Applied
A downward-moving skydiver is falling with a constant speed.
A football, originally kicked at an 40-degree angle to the
horizontal, is at the peak of its trajectory. Ignore air
resistance.
Friction
OK. Let me Try Again.
A rightward force is applied to a dresser to accelerate it to the
right across the bedroom floor. Ignore air resistance.
A downward-moving skydiver who has just opened the parachute is
slowing down. (Diagram the forces on the skydiver/parachute
combination.)
The cabin of a small freight elevator is secured to a motor by a
cable and is moving upward while slowing down. There is no contact
between the cabin and the elevator shaft. Ignore air resistance.
Congratulations!
You have accurately constructed the free-body diagram for this
situation. Click the button below to return to the main menu and
complete additional free-body diagrams.
Left
A softball player does a head-first dive and is sliding to the
right across the infield dirt. Ignore air resistance.
Up
Right
Down
Return to Main Menu
A hockey puck glides to the right across the ice at a constant
speed. Ignore air resistance.
Return
A sledder has reached the bottom of a hill and is coasting to the
right while slowing down along the loosely-packed snow. Ignore air
resistance.
1
Free-Body DiagramClick on an arrow to change its size.