Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Free-body diagrams are visual representations used to analyze the forces acting on an object. They show all the individual forces acting on an object as arrows, allowing for a clearer understanding of how these forces interact.
The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it. It acts perpendicular to the surface.
Tension Force: Tension force is a pulling force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled at both ends. It always acts along the direction of the string.
An applied force is any external force that is directly applied to an object by another object or person. It can be in any direction and magnitude depending on the situation.