Final answer:
Students are asked to draw a free-body diagram for a vessel being pulled by two tugboats and to discuss the forces considered. Forces from each tugboat should be represented, with no other forces present if friction and drag are neglected.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to a physics concept, specifically in understanding how forces act on an object. In this scenario, two tugboats are exerting forces on a disabled vessel, and the students are asked to represent these forces in a free-body diagram. To answer part (a) of the challenge problem, one would have to draw a diagram placing the vessel at the center and then adding arrows from the vessel towards the direction each tugboat is pulling, representing the forces applied by the tugboats.
For part (b) of the question, when completing a free-body diagram, it is essential to include all forces acting on the object. In this case, even if there are no friction or drag forces affecting the vessel, which might seem to simplify the problem, the question of whether you included all the forces pertains to confirming your understanding of what constitutes the free-body diagram. You should indicate that you included just the forces exerted by the tugboats, since those are the only relevant forces given in the problem's description.