Question

What happens to an object in a situation of unbalanced forces? Explain in terms of F = M * A. Give a practical example.

Answer 1

What does it mean that the forces are unbalanced?

Answer 2

I have no idea...

Answer 3

Balanced forces mean that there are two opposite forces that match each other, like two people pushing opposite sides of a box with the same force. Is the box going to move?

Answer 4

*Going to move in the case of 2 people pushing it?

Answer 5

Some one else explained it to me like this:
Let's suppose you are applying a force of 10 Newtons to the right on an object with a mass of 3 kg, and a second person is applying a force of 4 Newtons to the left. This produces an unbalanced force on the object of 6 newtons to the right. We call this the net force. Assuming there is no friction , the net force on the object is 6 newtons to the right.
By newtons second law, an object will accelerate in the same direction as the direction of the net force. Acceleration tells you how fast the speed of the object changes.
To calculate acceleration use Newton's Second law :
Net Force = Mass * acceleration
rearrange to solve for acceleration.
acceleration = Net force / Mass
Plug in
acceleration = 6 N / (3 kg)
acceleration = 2 meter / sec^2
Would this be right?

Answer 6

That's all right. That is a good example of unbalanced forces. Good luck!

Answer 7

You might want to change the initial force values (the 4 and 10 in theirs) to show you know how to do the work yourself.

Answer 8

Okay

Answer 9

Thanks!

Answer 10

You're welcome. Whoever answered you with the example did most of the work, though.