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Resultant forces and free body diagrams explained

Forces and motion • Force interactions

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • A resultant force is the single force that represents the combined effect of all acting forces on an object.
  • Forces can be added or subtracted based on their direction and magnitude.
  • If multiple forces act in the same direction, their magnitudes are added.
  • Conversely, if they act in opposite directions, the resultant force is the difference between them.
  • The direction of the resultant force determines the motion of the object.

Flashcards

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What is a resultant force?

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A resultant force is the single force acting on an object that represents the combined effect of all forces acting on it.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Resultant forces are calculated by vector addition.

Free body diagrams streamline force analysis.

Use the correct direction for each force in diagrams.

Equilibrium occurs when the resultant force is zero.

Increasing mass increases inertia against acceleration.

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