If the force of friction is equal to the applied force going forward, will there be any motion? or will it stop, because the friction cancelled out the applied force?

Question

anonymous · Answer

If the forces cancel each other there will be no acceleration, but there may be motion at constant velocity.

anonymous · Answer

ok but im asking you, if, for example, im moving a box with 20 N of force and the force of friction of ground is 20 N going against me. WILL THERE BE ANY MOVEMENT? Yes or no?

anonymous · Answer

I understood your question the first time, and my answer remains the same.  If you're pushing a box on a frictionless surface with 20 N then it will be accelerating.  If there is suddenly a 20 N force present in the opposite direction, like from friction, then it will stop accelerating and move at its constant velocity.

If there's a box just sitting on the floor, and I apply a 20 N force to it but at the same time a 20 N force is applied in the other direction, it will sit still.

Force is related to acceleration, not velocity.   The presence or absence of a net force tells you how the box accelerates, not what it's speed is.

anonymous · Answer

a good answer by jemurray3
if you are in motion and suppose suddenly friction started to resist your motion you will be slowed down. But if you encounter this friction by any external force, net force on you will be zero and according to newton's law of inertia there won't be any change in your state.
i.e, if you were in motion at the time of friction force cancellation you will be in motion with constant velocity and if you were in rest you will be in rest.