Applying Newton's Second Law

01Applying Newton's Second Law

Force Diagrams

Draw only the forces acting on the chosen particle and label their directions.

Isolate one object

A force diagram represents the forces exerted on the chosen object. Include its weight, contact forces and any pulls, pushes or resistance stated in the model. Choose a positive direction. Keep velocity and acceleration arrows separate from force arrows.

RmgDF
Forces on the crate, represented as a particle.

A crate moving right on a horizontal surface is driven by DD and resisted by FF. Its weight is mgmg downward and its normal reaction is RR upward. If it stays on the horizontal surface, its vertical acceleration is zero.

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