All Textbook Topics - Forces and Motion - Balanced and Unbalanced Forces on objects that can move

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces on objects that can move

When you are working with forces and motion, one of the most fundamental questions you will ask is: What is the resultant force acting on the object? Being able to work out if a force is balanced or unbalanced, and knowing the effects of this is crucial to your understanding of motion.

Textbook Learning Objectives
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1Two forces acting on an object in opposite directions will subtract from each other to produce a resultant force
2If an object has two forces acting on it in opposite directions and with equal magnitudes, then the forces on that object are balanced
3A solid object with balanced forces is either stationary or is moving at a constant velocity
4If an object has two forces acting on it in opposite directions and with different magnitudes, then the forces on that object are unbalanced
5An object with unbalanced forces will experience a change in velocity (an acceleration)