Final answer:
Free-body diagrams are tools to visualize external forces on an object, drawn as a point. Each scenario given (hanging ornament, falling ornament, moving and dropped balls, book on a table, and ball at top of its path) will have a unique diagram with forces like gravity, tension, and normal force labeled as vectors, and x/y components shown if necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, a free-body diagram is a graphical representation used to visualize the forces acting on an object. To correctly create a free-body diagram, follow these steps:
- Draw the object as a point, especially when considering it as a particle.
- Label all the external forces acting on the object with vector arrows.
- Resolve each force into its x and y components if necessary for analysis.
- Create separate diagrams for each object if multiple objects are involved.
Each scenario provided in the question will have a different free-body diagram:
- Mindy's Christmas tree ornament: It's stationary, with two forces in balance: gravitational force (weight) pulling down and the tension in the string pulling up.
- Corey's Christmas tree ornament: Only one force, gravitational force, is acting on it as it falls.
- Ginger's ball moving upward: Two forces here - gravitational force pulling down and the initial upward force while it moves up.
- Melissa's dropped ball: Similar to B, only gravitational force acts on it.
- Matt's book on a table: Gravitational force pulls it down while the normal force from the table supports it from below.
- Yvonne's ball at the top of its path: Though motionless at this instant, the only force acting on it is gravity.
Note, while drawing a free-body diagram, do not include net forces or internal forces.