Application of Two Dimensional Forces

As you can see, complex physics problems can be broken down into a series of manageable steps.  It helps to draw a free body diagram in order to better understand and isolate the forces on the object, then split any angled forces into components.  It also remains useful to put together a table of variables, identify unknowns and select appropriate equations from your toolbox.  Often organization makes the difference between success and failure in solving physics problems.

Every object will either maintain its motion due to balanced forces or accelerate due to unbalanced forces. These forces come in many forms; however, each act as a push or pull on an object. Since forces are vectors, equal forces acting in opposite directions will cancel each other out. Newton's First and Second Laws of Motion provide the framework in which we analyze balanced and unbalanced forces.