Question

MEDAL GIVEN TO CORRECT ANSWER.
Bill and Janet are pulling on opposite sides of a table. Bill pulls with a force of 450 N to the left, and Janet pulls with a force of 300 N to the right. What is the net force on the table?

A. 150 N to the left
B. 450 N to the right
C. 450 N to the left
D. 150 N to the right

Answer 1

This is a lot like your bicycle question, because the vectors are in opposite direction, you must subtract. Also, the resultant force will be towards the direction of the largest force (so to the left).

Answer 2

so, if they're in the same direction do you add?
Then the force be in the direction of the smallest force? @HomeschoolGrad

Answer 3

Yes, if they are in the same direction you add, and the resultant vector remains in the same direction.

If, however, they are in opposite directions, then you subtract, and the resultant vector ends up in the direction of the LARGER one.

Answer 4

So, for this problem, the answer would be A. because the larger vector is to the left.

Answer 5

@abbyisaprincess