Tension and Free Body Diagrams
Tension force is what a rope, string, or cord applies when it pulls on an object. What makes tension special is that it can only pull, never push—try pushing something with a rope and you'll see it just goes slack!
Free Body Diagrams (FBDs) are simple but powerful visual tools that show all the forces acting on an object. In these diagrams, we represent the object as a dot or box, with arrows showing the direction and relative strength of each force.
Different situations create different force patterns. A box sitting on a flat surface has just two forces: gravity pulling down and normal force pushing up. A free-falling object experiences only gravity. When someone pushes a box across a rough floor, we see normal force, gravity, friction, and the pushing force all at once.
Pro Tip: When drawing Free Body Diagrams, start by identifying if the object is moving or stationary, then figure out what forces could be causing that state. The diagram should tell the complete force "story" of the object.