Essential idea: Classical physics requires a force to change a state of motion, as suggested by Newton in his laws of motion.
New Understandings: Objects as point particles, Free-body diagrams
New Applications and skills: Representing forces as vectors, Sketching and interpreting free-body diagrams
Guidance: Students should label forces using commonly accepted names or symbols (for • example: weight or force of gravity or mg); Free-body diagrams should show scaled vector lengths acting from the point of application
Data booklet equations: None
Algodoo is essential simulation software for forces and more! A free download that you can use to experiment and predict.
The wonderful PhET simulations include an introduction to forces, and a special app looking at friction.
Oxford Physics: Oxford takes a different route through the course, so more appropriate to make links in the next section, but pages 49-51 look at free-body diagrams.
Hamper HL (2014): pages 52 - 61
Hamper SL (2014): pages 52 - 61
Pages 75 - 81