Final answer:
Vectors represent force acting on a object. The vectors are characterized according to the type.
They point in the direction of the force. Their magnitude is in proportion to its relative strength.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newton's second law states that the change of motion of a body is proportional to and in the direction of the force acting on it.
When drawing a free-body diagram, we include all the forces acting on the object, represented as vectors, to understand the net external forces acting on the object.
Two forces in equilibrium have equal magnitudes but opposite directions, as demonstrated in the case where two forces are acting on a point and both are in equilibrium. Hooke's law provides a specific example of forces acting in proportion to displacement in springs.
A key understanding in physics is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, highlighting the interaction between objects as the source of forces. Understanding these concepts allows for the prediction of an object's acceleration due to forces acting upon it.