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GATE 2026 Exam Date Announced – Complete Schedule, Syllabus, and Key Details » GATE Study Materials » Mechanical Engineering » Free-Body Diagrams and Equilibrium
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Free-Body Diagrams and Equilibrium

Table of Content
  •  

Introduction

A good understanding of situations depicted or explained by laws and theories will help students to tackle any problem. Free body diagram is one such example. A free-body diagram is a type of diagram in physics and associated disciplines where the different forces and their actions are depicted. A free body diagram is also concerned with two things: direction as well as the magnitude of the acting forces. This article is therefore also focused on providing information on free body diagram, free body diagram definition, a free body diagram, and equilibrium while also answering what is a free body diagram. 

Free Body Diagram

In physics, diagrams are essential to understanding a given concept. Any idea, law, or experiment is represented through the help of diagrams. These diagrams help students to visualize the concept and therefore facilitate understanding. Concepts in mechanical engineering need to be cleared. A free body diagram is an example of a vector diagram. A free body diagram is also concerned with two things: direction as well as the magnitude of the acting forces. There are certain components to the free body diagram. Those components are:

  • The arrows drawn in the free body diagram corresponds to the force magnitude experienced
  • Labelling is essential in a free body diagram
  • How the arrows are drawn corresponds to the force direction
  • The thing upon which the force is working is represented as a box or a square
  • The arrows radiate outwards from the square. 

What is a free body diagram?

It is associated with disciplines where the different forces and their actions are depicted. A free body diagram is also concerned with two things: direction as well as the magnitude of the acting forces. A free body diagram represents different kinds of forces. An object might be acted by different forces. So, a free body diagram represents these forces and their magnitude as well as direction. The free-body diagram represents the following types of forces:

  • Friction
  • Gravity
  • Tension
  • Normal
  • Magnetic and electrical
  • Air resistance

Free Body Diagram Definition

A free body diagram definition is another very common question that comes in exams. When a question like free body diagram definition comes, students must give the proper definition. The free-body diagram definition is free body diagram is a kind of diagrammatic representation of various forces acting on a thing represented by a square. The forces and their actions are mostly observed in isolation. The free-body diagram definition must also include that the direction, as well as the magnitude of the forces, are considered here. The forces are represented by the arrows. The diagram has neat and clean labels. The arrows radiate outwards. 

Free Body Diagram and Equilibrium

There is a close connection between the free body diagram and equilibrium. In physics, equilibrium is a state where an object does not experience any changes and is not in motion. Equilibrium is represented by the free body diagram. Students can find many options online which show how to draw free-body diagrams and equilibrium. The state of equilibrium where all the forces are acting in tandem is represented by a free body diagram. Equilibrium equations are also represented through a free-body diagram. In physics, all these sections are very important. Questions from equilibrium in drawing free body diagrams can come. In engineering, free body diagrams are known as force diagrams. Free body diagrams, therefore, are a useful visualising tool to see and understand forces. They also aid in calculating mechanical equations and problems. It also helps in understanding the structure and internal forces acting on it. Thus, the free body diagram is used in many engineering disciplines. FBD is also used for showing equilibrium diagrams.  

Conclusion

So, a Free body diagram is a useful visualising tool to see and understand forces. They also aid in calculating mechanical equations and problems. When a question like a free body diagram comes, students must answer it by writing that a free body diagram is a type of diagram in physics. It is associated with disciplines where the different forces and their actions are depicted. A free body diagram tends to be very simple and not very complicated.

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