Free Body Diagrams, Tutorials with Examples and Explanations

What is a Free Body Diagram?

The free body diagram helps you understand and solve static and dynamic problem involving forces. It is a diagram including all forces acting on a given object without the other object in the system. You need to first understand all the forces acting on the object and then represent these force by arrows in the direction of the force to be drawn.

Examples of Free Body Diagrams with Detailed Explanations

Example 1 : A book on a table

In this example, there are two forces acting on a book at rest on a table:
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the book
2) The normal force N exerted by the table on the book. free body diagram of a book an a table, weight and normal force

Example 2 : A suspended block

In this example, there are two forces acting on the suspended block at rest:
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the block
2) The tension force T exerted by the string (or rope) on the block.
free body diagram of a suspended block, weight and tension force

Example 3 : A block on a floor with an acting force Fa to pull the block

In this example, the block is being pulled and therefore a force of friction acts on the block. So there are four forces acting on the block.
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the block
2) The normal force N exerted by floor on the block.
3) The acting force Fa to pull the block.
4) The force of friction Ff exerted by floor on the block in the direction opposite the motion due to Fa.
free body diagram of a block being pulled; weight, normal force , acting force and force of friction

Example 4 : A falling object

In this example, there is only one force action on the falling object.
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the falling object.
free body diagram of a falling object; weight of the object.

Example 5 : An box on an incline plane (with no frictions)

In this example, we assume that the inclined plane is frictionless; two forces act on the box:
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the box.
2) The normal force N exerted by the inclined plane on the box. N is normal to the inclined plane. free body diagram of a falling object; weight of the object.

Example 6 : An box on an incline plane with an acting force and friction considered

In this example, a force Fa pulls the box upward and frictions are not negligible. Four forces act on the box:
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the box.
2) The normal force N exerted by the inclined plane on the box. N is normal to the inclined plane.
3) The acting force Fa.
4) The force of friction Fs exerted by the inclined plane on the box in the direction opposite the motion due to Fa.
free body diagram of a box pulled upward; weight of the object, normal force, acting force and force of friction.

Example 7 : A block suspended to the ceiling using three strings

suspended block.
A) free body diagram for the block; two forces (lower part of figure below)
1) The weight W exerted by the earth on the box.
2) The tension force T '3 exerted by the string on the block.
B) free body diagram of point P; three forces (upper part of figure below)
1) Tension T1
2) Tension T2
3) Tension T3
free body diagram of  a block suspended by three strings.

Example 8 : A system with two blocks, an inclined plane and a pulley

two blocks, and inclined plane and a pulley system.
A) free body diagram for block m1 (left of figure below)
1) The weight W1 exerted by the earth on the box.
2) The normal force N
3) The force of friction Fk
4) The tension force T exerted by the string on the block m1.
B) free body diagram of block m2 (right of figure below)
1) The weight of the block W2
2) Tension T '. free body diagram of two blocks, and inclined plane and a pulley system.