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See how a contact force mind map breaks down the forces on an object

Study a ready-made contact force map first, then turn your own physics notes or PDF into an editable mind map you can explore branch by branch.

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What a contact force mind map shows

A contact force mind map example shows how forces that act through physical touch relate to one another. Each main branch covers one force, such as normal force, friction, tension, or spring force, and the sub-points note its direction and the rule that describes it.

Normal force acts perpendicular to the surface supporting the object.
Friction acts parallel to the surface and opposes motion or impending motion.
Tension pulls along a rope, string, or cable away from the object it holds.
Spring force follows Hooke's law, F = -kx, and opposes the displacement.

Example contact force concepts for a mind map

Normal forceActs perpendicular to the surface · Balances the part of weight pressing into the surface · Equals weight on a flat, level surface with no other vertical push

FrictionStatic friction · Kinetic friction · Opposes motion or the tendency to move · Kinetic friction equals μk times the normal force

TensionPulls along a rope, string, or cable · Acts away from the object it is attached to · Equal throughout an ideal, massless rope

Applied forcePush or pull from a person or object · Acts in the direction of the push or pull · Adds vectorially with other contact forces to give net force

Spring forceFollows Hooke's law, F = -kx · Opposes the displacement from equilibrium · Proportional to stretch or compression within the elastic limit

Generate the full set

Editable branches

Rename, move, or add branches so the map matches your course and your textbook's terms.

Explorable structure

Expand each force to see its direction, formula, and common examples without scrolling through pages of notes.

Built from your material

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain notes, or a photo of a page and get a map based on what you actually studied.

How it works

Upload your notes or PDF

Add the chapter, slides, or handwritten notes on contact forces. Photos of pages are read with text recognition.

Review the generated branches

Check that normal force, friction, tension, and other contact forces are grouped the way your class presents them.

Edit and study the map

Adjust any branch, then explore the map in the browser to quiz yourself on each force.

Seeing the forces side by side makes it easier to spot patterns, like friction depending on the normal force or tension acting along a rope. Building the map from your own lecture notes keeps the relationships tied to the terms your instructor uses.

DeckOwl can turn your material into an editable, explorable mind map. Start with the free plan, which includes 3 generations per month, and build the map around the exact content you need to learn.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a contact force mind map usually include?

Most maps branch into normal force, friction, tension, applied force, and spring force. Each branch lists the direction of the force and the rule or equation that describes it.

How do I tell normal force from friction?

Normal force is perpendicular to the contact surface, while friction is parallel to it. Kinetic friction equals μk times the normal force, and static friction can be up to μs times the normal force.

Can I export my mind map?

Exports are part of the Plus plan, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month. The free plan lets you create and study mind maps in the browser with 3 generations per month.

Do I need a credit card to try it?

No. You can start on the free plan without a credit card, and students can get 40% off with a school email.

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