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⚙️ How to Draw a Free-Body Diagram

Learn to isolate one object and identify weight, normal force, and friction on a free-body diagram.

lessons

~10 min

to learn

🔬 Science

subject

Adults

level

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What you’ll learn

BoundarySet the boundary of a free-body diagram around one object.A clear boundary keeps the diagram focused on forces acting on the selected object.
GravityDistinguish mass from weight and draw weight in the correct direction.Near Earth, weight is a gravitational force with magnitude W = mg and direction toward Earth’s center.
ContactDraw and interpret a normal force at a contact.Normal force is perpendicular to the contact and equals weight only in specific balanced cases.
FrictionChoose the correct friction model and direction.Friction acts along the contact and opposes relative sliding or the tendency to slide.

Questions this course answers

What does a free-body diagram isolate?

It shows forces acting on a selected object.

Where does weight point near Earth?

Weight is Earth’s gravitational force, directed toward Earth’s center.

What direction is normal force?

Normal means perpendicular to the contact surface.

What does friction oppose?

Friction resists relative motion at a contact.

Grounded in trusted sources

[object Object]
[object Object]
[object Object]
[object Object]

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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