Balanced & Unbalanced Forces

Front

What are balanced forces?

Back

Balanced forces are two or more forces acting on an object that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.

Front

What are unbalanced forces?

Back

Unbalanced forces are forces that are not equal in size and/or direction, causing an object to accelerate, decelerate, or change direction.

Front

What happens to an object when balanced forces act on it?

Back

When balanced forces act on an object, it remains at rest or continues to move at a constant speed in a straight line.

Front

What happens to an object when unbalanced forces act on it?

Back

When unbalanced forces act on an object, it will accelerate in the direction of the net force.

Front

Give an example of balanced forces in everyday life.

Back

A book resting on a table experiences balanced forces: the upward force from the table equals the downward force of gravity.

Front

Give an example of unbalanced forces in everyday life.

Back

A car accelerating from a stoplight experiences unbalanced forces as the engine's force exceeds the frictional force.

Front

What is the net force?

Back

The net force is the overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces are combined.

Front

How do you determine if forces are balanced or unbalanced?

Back

If the net force is zero, the forces are balanced. If the net force is greater than zero, the forces are unbalanced.

Front

What is friction?

Back

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object, often acting between surfaces in contact.

Front

How does friction affect motion?

Back

Friction can slow down or stop the motion of an object, making it an unbalanced force when it opposes another force.