Question

Draw the free-body diagram for a basketball player (a) just before leaving the ground on a jump, and (b) while in the air. See Fig. 4–46.

Short answer

The obtained free body diagrams for parts (a) and (b) are as follows:

(a)

(b)

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Draw the free body diagram just before the player leaves the ground

In order to draw the free body diagram, the total number of forces acting on the given body should be evaluated with their particular directions.

The free body diagram of the player just before leaving the ground is as follows:

Consider that the person jumps straight in the upward direction. Two forces act on the player just before he leaves the ground; the first one is his weight, and the other one is the reaction force exerted by the ground on him.

Step 2. Draw the free body diagram while the player is in the air

The free body diagram of the player is as follows:

When the player jumps off the ground in a straight-up direction, the force acting on him is his weight while he is in the air. The normal force is not considered in this case because the player is not in contact with the ground.