4.2 Forces in Equilibrium

Question 1

what do free-body force diagrams show and include?

Answer 1

• they show a single body on its own
• they should include all the forces that act on the body but not the forces it exerts on the rest pf the world

Question 2

what do the force arrows in free-body force diagrams have to show?

Answer 2

the size and direction of the forces

Question 3

what does it mean if a force is in equilibrium?

Answer 3

all of the forces are balanced and cancel eachother out. there is no resultant force

Question 4

how do you solve equilibrium problems by drawing force vectors in a closed loop?

Answer 4

draw the forces tip-to-tail forming a shape (a vector triangle/vector polygon)

Question 5

how do you solve equilibrium problems by resolving forces in two perpendicular directions?

Answer 5

if an object is in equilibrium, the sum of the horizontal components must be equal to zero and the sum of the vertical components must be equal to zero.
forces in the negative direction have negative value