Question 1: What is a free body diagram and what is its primary purpose in physics?

Answer: A free body diagram is a graphical representation that shows all the forces acting on an object, used to analyze the object's motion and equilibrium.

Question 2: List the common forces that are typically included in a free body diagram of a hanging object.

Answer: Gravity (weight), tension in the supporting string or cable, and possibly air resistance if relevant.

Question 3: Explain how a free body diagram helps in calculating the net force acting on an object.

Answer: It visually represents all forces acting on the object, allowing us to sum the components of these forces to determine the net force, which influences the object's acceleration or equilibrium.

Question 4: In a scenario where a box is pulled with a force of 50 N on a frictionless surface, what forces would be shown in the free body diagram?

Answer: The pulling force of 50 N and the weight of the box acting downward, with the normal force acting upward, balancing the weight.

Question 5: Describe the steps involved in constructing a free body diagram for an object sliding down an inclined plane.

Answer: First, identify all forces acting on the object, such as gravity, normal force, and friction. Then, choose a suitable scale and draw the object as a dot or box. Next, draw vectors representing each force, correctly oriented: gravity pointing downward, normal force perpendicular to the surface, and friction opposite to motion. Label each force accordingly. Finally, analyze the forces to determine acceleration or equilibrium.

Question 6: Which of the following is NOT typically included in a free body diagram? A) Force of gravity B) Frictional force C) Velocity of the object D) Normal force

Answer: C) Velocity of the object

Question 7: Fill in the blank: The force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact is called __________.

Answer: friction

Question 8: Describe how the concept of free body diagrams applies to real-world engineering, such as designing bridges or cranes.

Answer: Engineers use free body diagrams to analyze the forces acting on structures like bridges or cranes to ensure they can withstand loads, prevent failure, and optimize material use by understanding how forces distribute throughout the structure.

Question 9: Identify the variables you would measure or control in an experiment to analyze forces acting on an object on an inclined plane.

Answer: Variables include the angle of inclination, the mass of the object, the coefficient of friction, and the applied force if any, along with measuring the normal force and acceleration.

Question 10: In a scenario where a sled is pulled across snow with a force of 30 N at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal, what are the key forces acting on the sled? Explain how you would represent these in a free body diagram.

Answer: Key forces include the applied pulling force of 30 N at 30°, the weight of the sled acting downward, the normal force perpendicular to the surface, and friction opposing the motion. In the diagram, represent the pulling force at the given angle, the weight as a downward arrow, the normal force upward, and friction as opposite to the direction of pulling.