Problem Solving Strategy

• Draw a picture of the situation and a force diagram of all the forces for each body (a free body diagram).
  • In the force diagram for each object, include only the forces acting on that object.
  • The force exerted by a rope is called the tension and usually denoted $\vec{T}$ .
  • The contact force exerted by a surface is called the normal force and always acts perpendicular to the surface.
• Set up a coordinate system and apply Newton's second law:
  

  $$\Sigma \Sigma$$

• If necessary, use the kinematic equations of motion to solve for the desired quantities.