The goal of a Free-Body diagram is to identify all the forces acting on an object and then to draw a diagram for that system.

• Divide the problem into object (system) and environment (everything else)
• Draw a sketch of the object and everything that is in contact with the object
• Find points where contact forces may act (contact points)
• Draw the forces as arrows (vectors) starting at contact points
  • All forces need to have a identifiable cause in the environment
  • Draw the vectors in positive direction of the force
  • Try to make the length of the arrow (vector) relative to the magnitude of the force
  • Name all the forces
  • Forces are either contact forces or long-range forces
• Draw the axes of the coordinate system
  • It is often convenient to make one axis pointing in the direction of motion