High school · Physics
Isolate One Object and Add Its Forces
Draw a single-object force inventory and calculate acceleration from signed net force in an inertial reference frame.
One selected lesson · Temporary, ungraded practice
Learn
Reading 1 of 3
Choose one object before adding forces
A force diagram inventories interactions acting on one chosen object. Label both the agent exerting each force and its direction. In these paper models, the reference frame is treated as inertial, masses stay constant, and horizontal and vertical axes are perpendicular. Forces on other objects belong in their own diagrams. An arrow for velocity may be useful beside the diagram, but velocity is not an additional force and must not be included in the force sum.