Practice
Apply the method described in the paragraph above to construct free-body diagrams for
the various situations described below. Answers are shown and explained at the bottom
of this page.
1. A book is at rest on a tabletop. Diagram the forces acting on the book.
2. A gymnast holding onto a bar, is suspended motionless in mid-air. The bar is
supported by two ropes that attach to the ceiling. Diagram the forces acting on the
combination of gymnast and bar.
3. An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance. Diagram the
forces acting on the egg as it is falling.
4. A flying squirrel is gliding (no wing flaps) from a tree to the ground at constant
velocity. Consider air resistance. Diagram the forces acting on the squirrel.
5. A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it across a desk with a
rightward acceleration. Consider frictional forces. Neglect air resistance. Diagram the
forces acting on the book.
6. A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it across a desk at
constant velocity. Consider frictional forces. Neglect air resistance. Diagram the
forces acting on the book.
7. A college student rests a backpack upon his shoulder. The pack is suspended
motionless by one strap from one shoulder. Diagram the vertical forces acting on
the backpack.
8. A skydiver is descending with a constant velocity. Consider air resistance.
Diagram the forces acting upon the skydiver.
9. A force is applied to the right to drag a sled across loosely packed snow with a
rightward acceleration. Neglect air resistance. Diagram the forces acting upon the
sled.
10. A football is moving upwards towards its peak after having been booted by the
punter. Neglect air resistance. Diagram the forces acting upon the football as it rises
upward towards its peak.
11. A car is coasting to the right and slowing down. Neglect air resistance. Diagram
the forces acting upon the car.
Answers
Answers to the above exercise are shown here. If you have difficulty drawing free-body
diagrams, then you ought to be concerned. Continue to review the the list of forces and
their description and this page in order to gain a comfort with constructing free-body
diagrams.
1. A book is at rest on a tabletop. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to on-line Force Description List
2. A gymnast holding onto a bar, is suspended motionless in mid-air. The bar is
supported by two ropes that attach to the ceiling. Diagram the forces acting on the
combination of gymnast and bar. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to Info on Free-body diagrams
Return to on-line Force Description List
3. An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance. A free-body
diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to Info on Free-body diagrams
Return to on-line Force Description List
4. A flying squirrel is gliding (no wing flaps) from a tree to the ground at constant
velocity. Consider air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to Info on Free-body diagrams
Return to on-line Force Description List
5. A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it across a desk with a
rightward acceleration. Consider frictional forces. Neglect air resistance. A free-body
diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to on-line Force Description List
6. A rightward force is applied to a book in order to move it across a desk at constant
velocity. Consider frictional forces. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this
situation looks like this:
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Return to on-line Force Description List
7. A college student rests a backpack upon his shoulder. The pack is suspended
motionless by one strap from one shoulder. A free-body diagram for this situation looks
like this:
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Return to Info on Free-body diagrams
Return to on-line Force Description List
8. A skydiver is descending with a constant velocity. Consider air resistance. A free-
body diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to Info on Free-body diagrams
Return to on-line Force Description List
9. A force is applied to the right to drag a sled across loosely packed snow with a
rightward acceleration. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation
looks like this:
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Return to on-line Force Description List
10. A football is moving upwards towards its peak after having been booted by the
punter. Neglect air resistance. A free-body diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to on-line Force Description List
11. A car is coasting to the right and slowing down. Neglect air resistance. A free-body
diagram for this situation looks like this:
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Return to Info on Free-body diagrams
Return to on-line Force Description List
