Physics HL

Chapter 2: Forces and Newton's Laws

Develop force literacy from free-body diagrams to Newton's laws, then apply net-force reasoning to friction and circular motion.

1 simulation entries

Simulation: Near-Threshold Equilibrium

Use a high-friction setup where static friction can just hold. Nudge applied force around the threshold and watch net force flip from zero to non-zero.

Appears in: 2.2 Equilibrium and Net Force, 2.4 Friction Thresholds and Net-Force Balance

Net Force Lab

Free-body visualization

m = 4.0 kgN = 39.2 NW = mg = 39.2 NApplied: 18.0 NFriction: -11.8 NNet: 6.2 NScene updates from actual force balance, not just sliders.

Max static friction

11.77 N

Net force

6.23 N

Acceleration

1.557 m/s²

State

Sliding

The applied-force vector exceeds static-friction capacity, so a non-zero net-force vector appears and the block accelerates in that direction.