SHS

General Physics 1
Module 12: Quarter 1 – Week 4
 Target

The first step in solving any Physics problem is to visualize what’s going on.
Free-body diagrams are diagrams used to show the relative magnitude and direction
of all forces acting upon an object in each situation. These diagrams are used to
reduce the difficulty of condition for easy examination. It is used as a starting point
to develop a scientific model of the forces acting on an object. This material shall
help you in the understanding of the succeeding lessons that you will have.

This learning material shall focus on the forces acting upon an object. You will
be given activities for you to accomplish for you to understand the concept on free-
body diagram.

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

Draw free-body diagrams (STEM_GP12N-Id32)

Before going on, check how much you know about this topic. Answer the
pretest on the next page in a separate sheet of paper.

Pre-Test

Directions. Carefully read each item. Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. It is used to describe the pull of gravity.

A. Weight
B. Normal Force
C. Frictional Force
D. Tension

2. It is a force that keeps two surfaces from sinking into each other.

A. Weight
B. Normal Force
C. Frictional Force
D. Tension
3. It acts parallel to the surfaces that are in contact and in the direction opposite
to the motion of the object or to any force tending to produce such motion.

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 A. Weight
B. Normal Force
C. Frictional Force
D. Tension

4. This force depends on the nature of the materials in contact and the
smoothness of their surfaces.
A. Weight
B. Normal Force
C. Frictional Force
D. Tension

5. This exists in any body that is pulled by to opposing forces.

A. Weight
B. Normal Force
C. Frictional Force
D. Tension
6. From the diagram, which one represents a normal force? 1
4
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3 2
D. 4

7. From the diagram, which one represents the weight? 3

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

8. A book is at rest on a table top. Which one is NOT a free-body diagram

for this situation?

A. B. C.
Fnor

9. Which statement is true?

A. The normal force always is in the opposite direction of the gravitational

force
B. The normal force always is in the same direction of the gravitational force

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 C. The frictional force always is in the opposite direction of the gravitational
force
D. The normal force always is in the same direction of the gravitational force

10. Examples of forces include

A. motion. B. friction C. acceleration. D. two of the above

Jumpstart

For you to understand the lesson well, do the following activities.

Have fun and good luck!

Activity 1: MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

Directions: Read the different forces acting in an object. The text is meant to accompany
you to get in touch with the different forces acting on the body. It is meant as a
preparation for you. Understand what you are reading!
Forces are responsible for all the interactions between particles and objects.
They can be divided into two categories: contact forces and non-contact forces. Sir
Isaac Newton gave us the concept of force. He said that an object would be in its
position either in static state or moving state until and unless any external force is
applied on it. Force is a stimulus provided to an object to make it do something.

1. Weight (w or Fg) is a term we use to describe the pull of gravity. The

direction of this force is down. The force of gravity on earth is always equal to the
weight of the object as expressed in the equation:
Fg = m x g
where g = 9.8 m/s2
m = mass expressed in kilogram (kg)
Remember: Weight is different from mass

Weight is an example of a non-contact force.

2. The Normal force (Fn) is the support force exerted upon an object
that is in contact with another stable object. It is a contact force.
Remember:
The normal force (Fn)is a force that is:

1. perpendicular to the surface,

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 2. a reaction force to presence of other forces.

3. Friction is a resistive force exerted by a surface as an object moves

across it or makes an effort to move across it, an example of a contact. Though it is
not always

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the case, the friction force (Ff) often opposes the motion of an object. Friction results
from the two surfaces being pressed together closely, causing intermolecular attractive
forces between molecules of different surfaces. As such, friction depends upon the
nature of the two surfaces and upon the degree to which they are pressed together.
Friction is discussed in greater detail in the next part of the lesson.

4. Tension (T) exists in any body that is pulled by to opposing forces. It is a

pulling force that acts along a stretched flexible connector, such as a rope or cable.

5. Applied Force - An applied force is a force that is applied to an object by a

person or another object. If a person is pushing a desk across the room, then there
is an applied force acting upon the object. The applied force is the force exerted on
the desk by the person.

6. Air Resistance Force- The air resistance is a special type of frictional

force that acts upon objects as they travel through the air. The force of air
resistance is often observed to oppose the motion of an object.

Remember these forces on how they occur or observed so that you will not be
loss when you will be making a free body diagram of the following situations.

Answer this after you have read the text!

Matching Type: Match the characteristics of forces found in column A to the
different forces acting on a body in Column B. Write your answer on the space
before the number.
Column A Column B

1. A force exerted upon an object that A. Weight

is in contact with another stable object.

2. Opposes the motion of an object B. Normal Force

3. A pulling force that acts along a C. Tension

stretched flexible connector

4. It depends upon the nature of the D. Friction

two surfaces and upon the degree to
which they are pressed together

5. A force of gravity on earth is always E. Applied Force

equal to the weight of the object

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 Discover

In describing and analyzing most phenomena in physics, it involves the careful

drawing of a free-body diagram. Free-body diagrams are used to have a bigger
analysis of a given problem in Physics. This free-body diagrams include the external
forces acting on a body of interest. We can actually apply the first law of motion or
the second law of motion if we have already drawn an accurate free-body diagram.
In Forces, you can use the following steps taken from Open Educational
Resources (OER)-University Physics Volume 1
(https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-osuniversityphysics/chapter/5-7-
drawing-free-body-diagrams/) as a guide in in constructing these diagrams.
Problem-Solving Strategy: Constructing Free-Body Diagrams

Observe the following rules when constructing a free-body diagram:

1. Draw the object under consideration; it does not have to be
artistic. At first, you may want to draw a circle around the
object of interest to be sure you focus on labeling the forces
acting on the object. If you are treating the object as a particle
(no size or shape and no rotation), represent the object as a
point. We often place this point at the origin of an xy-
coordinate system.
2. Include all forces that act on the object, representing these
forces as vectors. Consider the types of forces described in
Common Forces—normal force, friction, tension, and as well
as weight and applied force. Do not include the net force on
the object. Except for gravity, all the forces we have discussed
require direct contact with the object. However, forces that the
object exerts on its environment must not be included. We
never include both forces of an action-reaction pair.
3. Convert the free-body diagram into a more detailed diagram
showing the x– and y-components of a given force (this is often
helpful when solving a problem using Newton’s first or second
law). In this case, place a wavy line through the original vector
to show that it is no longer in play—it has been replaced by its
x– and y-components.
4. If there are two or more objects, or bodies, in the problem, draw a
separate free-body diagram for each object.

Recalling the action-reaction force, these forces can also be drawn using a
free-body diagram to have a deeper analysis of a situation involving forces in a
problem solving specially when dealing with Physics problem.

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Drawing the weight's force on a free body diagram.

On a free-body diagram, Weight (W/Fg) is always drawn towards the ground.

For instance, a book at rest on a tabletop.

book
Book

Fg
Table

The weight is always drawn downward.

Figure 1 Free-body diagram

Drawing the Normal force on a free body diagram

The normal force is perpendicular to the surface and is a reaction to the

force(s) holding you down. From the example above:

Book
Fn book

Table Fg

The direction normal force is perpendicular to the surface

Figure 1 Free-body diagram

If you are standing on an incline the normal force would be the reaction force
keeping you from sinking into the incline and it would be perpendicular to the incline's
surface.

book
Book Fn

Fg

Table
The direction normal force is still perpendicular to the surface
Free-body diagram
Figure 2

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Drawing the Applied force (Fapp) and Frictional Force (Ff ) on a free body diagram
Remember that in friction, no matter what scientific formula is used to describe
the magnitude of the frictional force, they all point in the opposite direction of
motion and parallel to the surfaces of contact.
Consider the diagram below:

1. A car speeding up to the right car

Fn

Ff Fapp
Fg

Figure 2 Free-body diagram

Note: The size of the arrow in a free body diagram is reflective of the magnitude of
the force, therefore in this example, Frictional force has a shorter arrow while the
applied force has longer arrow because the car moves in the direction of the applied
force showing that the Applied force is greater than frictional force.

2. A box sliding down a ramp while slowing down

Ff Fn
box
Box

Fg

Figure 3 Free-body diagram

Note: The direction of the frictional force is opposite to the direction of the object’s
motion. When an object is sliding down a ramp and it is slowing down, the frictional
force is greater.

Drawing the Tension on a free body diagram

Tension is an internal force in a string (or rope) that acts in the direction of
the string.

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Study the figure below:

1. Light hanging from a ceiling

Fg

Free-body diagram

Note: The forces acting on the light, namely its weight and the tension in the cord,
are shown as arrows.

The symbol for tension is "T." There is no formula for tension. Tension's value
has to be either known in the problem or calculated from the other forces.

http://www.mrwaynesclass.com/freebodies/reading/index01.html

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 Explore

Here are some enrichment activities for you to work on to master and strengthen the basic
concepts you have learned from this lesson.

Free-body diagrams are used to represent the direction and the magnitude of
all forces acting on a body in each situation. Now it is your time to apply the things
that you have gained in the discover part of this Learning material.
Enrichment Activity Number 1
What you need: extra sheets of paper, pen/pencil

What to do: Study the different situation below. Identify the interacting objects, then
draw the free-body diagrams for the situations below. Write your answer on the space
provided.

1. A cat is at rest on a table top. A free-body diagram for this situation looks
like this:

2. A boy is suspended motionless from the ceiling by a rope.

3. A leftward-moving truck is slipping to a stop across a flat highway with

locked wheels.

4. An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance.

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 5. A force is applied to the right to drag a sled across loosely packed snow with
a rightward acceleration

Enrichment Activity no. 2:

Directions: Study the picture below then draw the free-body diagram. Write your
answer on the space provided for.
1. Tied Balloon

Answer:

2. an airplane moving leftward

Answer:

Great job! You have understood the lesson.

Are you now ready to summarize?

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 Deepen
At this point you are now ready to draw a free-body diagram in which
you represent the various forces that are acting upon the object(s) using vector arrows.
Label each arrow to indicate the type of force.
1. A flying bird is flying from a tree to the ground at constant velocity. Consider air
resistance. Diagram the forces acting on the squirrel.

2. A force is applied to drag a sled across loosely packed snow with an acceleration.
Diagram the forces acting upon the sled.

3. A car is coasting to the right with a leftward acceleration of 1 m/s2. Diagram the
forces acting upon the car.

Gauge

Directions: Carefully read each item. Use a separate sheet for your answers.
Write only the letter of the best answer for each test item.

1. What is the missing force?

? A. Normal Force
B. Weight
Ff C. Force of Gravity
Fg D. Applied Force
Fapp

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 2. Which statement is true?

A. The normal force always is in the opposite direction of the gravitational

force
B. The normal force always is in the same direction of the gravitational force
C. The frictional force always is in the opposite direction of the gravitational
force
D. The normal force always is in the same direction of the gravitational force

3. Which of the following cases does the free body diagram below illustrate?

A. A book falling off a table.

B. A leaf floating to the ground.
C. A skydiver falling through the sky.
D. A. soccer ball after it has been hit straight up into the air.

4. Which of the following cases does the free body diagram below illustrate?
A. A book sliding across the table at a constant speed.
B. A book sliding across the table at a constant
acceleration.
C. A book sliding across the table slowing to a stop.
D. A book motionless on the table.

5. Which of the following cases does the free body diagram below illustrate?

A. A backpack falling off a table.

B. A backp a c k being lifted off a table.
C. A backpack being placed on a table.
D. A backpack hanging over a student's shoulder.

6. Which of the following cases does the free body diagram below illustrate?
A. A book falling off a table.
B. A book sliding across the table at a constant speed.
C. A book sliding across the table at a constant acceleration.
D. A book at rest on a table.

7. Which one is used to describe the pull of gravity.

A. Weight
B. Normal Force C. Frictional Force
D. Tension
8. Which of the following is a force that keeps two surfaces from sinking into
each other?
A. Weight C. Frictional Force
B. Normal Force D. Tension
9. What force acts as parallel to the surfaces that are in contact and in the direction
opposite to the motion of the object or to any force tending to produce such motion.

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 A. Weight C. Frictional Force
B. Normal Force D. Tension
10. Which force is dependent on the nature of the materials in contact and the
smoothness of their surfaces.
A. Weight C. Frictional Force
B. Normal Force D. Tension

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References

Printed Material

K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum Senior high school – Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) specialized subject. General Physics 1.
List of Learning Competencies

General Physics 1. , March 2, 2015 Open Stax College. Vibal Interactive e-Book.
Philippine Edition

Science Learner’s Material, Grade 10. Department of Education. Republic of the

Philippines.K-12 Curriculum
Website

Resource for the MESA 9th grade physics. Introduction to Free Body Diagrams.
Retreived from
http://www.mrwaynesclass.com/freebodies/reading/index01.html on July
22, 2020
Open Educational Resources (OER)-University Physics Volume 1 Rretrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-osuniversityphysics/chapter/5-7-
drawing-free-body-diagrams/ on July 22, 2020
Worksheet. Introduction to Physics
https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib/VA01000195/Centricity/Domain/
23964/Free%20Body%20Diagram%20Worksheet%201%20KEY.pdf
A Resource for Free-standing Mathematics Qualifications retrieved from
https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files
/FSMQ%20Force%20diagrams.pdf on July 22, 2020
http://www.mrwaynesclass.com/freebodies/reading/index01.html

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