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 that show all the forces acting on an object. They help us analyze and understand the motion of objects by isolating the forces acting on them.
Related terms
Newton's Laws: These laws describe how forces affect the motion of objects.
Normal Force: The force exerted by a surface to support an object resting on it.