The term free body is usually associated wih the notion of a free body diagram, a pictorial device used by physicists and engineers. In that context, a body is said to be "free" when it is singled out from other bodies for the purposes of dynamic or static analysis. The object does not have to be "free" in the sense of being unforced, and it may or may not be in a state of equilibrium. The object is said to be free in the sense that it has been singled out, identified, as the body of interest.
Famous quotes containing the words free and/or body:
“Democracy shows not only its power in reforming governments, but in regenerating a race of men—and this is the greatest blessing of free governments.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.”
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902)