freeBody

Freebody is a term that can refer to several different concepts or proper nouns. In most technical contexts it is a shorthand for “free-body” used in physics and engineering to describe an object isolated from its surroundings for analysis.

In classical mechanics, a free-body diagram represents the object as a closed boundary with all external forces drawn as vectors acting on it, such as gravity, normal force, friction, tension, and applied forces. By applying Newton's laws to the diagram, one can solve for unknown forces, accelerations, or equilibria. The method emphasizes isolating a single body to simplify the problem, assuming the rest of the system only affects it through external forces.

Outside physics, Freebody and related spellings may appear as a brand name, product, company, or title. In such cases the meaning depends on the specific context or organization and is not universally defined. The term can also be encountered as a surname.

The etymology derives from “free” and “body,” indicating the conventional practice of treating the body as free from surrounding constraints to analyze forces.

Related terms include free-body diagram and the broader study of mechanics. The term's usage can vary by region and field, so clarifying context is important when encountering Freebody.