Question: What is the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces?
- Balanced forces result in no change in an object’s motion, while unbalanced forces cause acceleration.
- Balanced forces result in acceleration, while unbalanced forces keep an object at rest.
- Both balanced and unbalanced forces cause objects to move at a constant speed.
Answer: A) Balanced forces result in no change in an object’s motion, while unbalanced forces cause acceleration.
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces Solution:
Let’s delve into the key differences between them.
- Balanced Forces: When two or more forces acting on an object have equal magnitudes and opposite directions, they are considered balanced forces. In this case, the net force on the object is zero. As a result, the object remains in a state of equilibrium and experiences no change in its motion. This means that if an object is initially at rest, it will continue to remain at rest, and if it is already in motion, it will move at a constant speed in a straight line.
- Unbalanced Forces: Unbalanced forces, on the other hand, occur when the forces acting on an object are not equal in magnitude or not in opposite directions. In this situation, the net force on the object is nonzero, which causes the object to accelerate. If the net force is in the direction of the applied force, the object will accelerate in that direction. Conversely, if the net force opposes the initial motion, it will result in deceleration or a change in direction.
Here are some other examples of balanced forces:
- A bird flying at a constant speed.
- A person standing still on a skateboard.
- A car driving at a constant speed on a level road.
Here are some other examples of unbalanced forces:
- A ball is being thrown upwards.
- A car accelerating from a stop sign.
- A person pushing a heavy crate across the floor.
In summary, understanding the distinction between is essential in physics, as it forms the basis for explaining how objects move or remain at rest under the influence of various forces.
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