Free Body Diagram of a 1500 kg Car Driving at 30 m/s
Introduction
When a car is driving, there are a number of forces acting on it. These forces include the force of gravity, the force of friction, the force of air resistance, and the force of the engine. The free body diagram of a car shows all of these forces acting on the car.
Forces Acting on the Car
Force of Gravity
The force of gravity is a downward force that is exerted on all objects with mass. The force of gravity is proportional to the mass of the object and the acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth.
Force of Friction
The force of friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object. The force of friction is proportional to the coefficient of friction and the normal force. The coefficient of friction is a measure of the roughness of the surface. The normal force is the force that is exerted on the object by the surface.
Force of Air Resistance
The force of air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of an object through the air. The force of air resistance is proportional to the drag coefficient, the density of the air, and the velocity of the object. The drag coefficient is a measure of the shape of the object.
Force of the Engine
The force of the engine is a force that propels the car forward. The force of the engine is proportional to the power of the engine and the efficiency of the engine.
Free Body Diagram
The free body diagram of a car driving at 30 m/s is shown below.
The forces acting on the car are:
- Force of gravity (downward)
- Force of friction (backward)
- Force of air resistance (backward)
- Force of the engine (forward)
Conclusion
The free body diagram of a car shows all of the forces acting on the car. These forces include the force of gravity, the force of friction, the force of air resistance, and the force of the engine. The forces acting on the car are balanced, which means that the car is not accelerating.
