Amplify Balanced Forces

Sometimes forces are balanced, such as when an object stands still. Other times forces are unbalanced, such as when an object moves or falls. Look at the boulder in front of the cave. Which of the following sentences about the forces acting on the boulder is true?

• The forces are balanced, it is not moving.

• The forces are unbalanced, it is hard.

• There are no forces acting on the boulder. It is heavy.

This box is sitting on a table. You want to understand the changing forces that act on the box. Which of the following investigations would help you do this?

• Describe the direction the box is pushing on the table.

• Observe that the box is not moving. That means there are no forces acting on it.

• Hang weights from the hook. The weights will push on the box.

• Hang weights from the hook. The weights will pull on the box. The box will slide to the end of the table.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Elena wants to investigate how patterns can be used to predict how an object will move. She attaches a string to a ball and pulls it back. Look at the picture below that shows this. What can the student predict that the ball will do after it swings to the left side?

• It will stay on the left side.

• It will move higher each time it swings to either side.

• It will swing to the right side and then back to the left.

• It will stop in the middle before it reaches the right side.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A ______________________ is when multiple forces of equal strength acting on an object.

• explain

• balanced force

• analyze

• magnetic force

Tags

NGSS.3-PS2-1

If an object is not moving, the forces acting upon it are

(a)  

• unbalanced

• weak

• balanced

• strong

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

If an object is not moving, the forces acting upon it are

• unbalanced

• weak

• balanced

• strong

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Forces that cancel each other are called ​ (a)   forces.

• balanced

• inactive

• neutral

• null

• unbalanced

Answer explanation

Balanced forces cancel each other out, resulting in no net force. This concept is crucial in understanding the equilibrium of objects.

Tags

HS-PS2-2

Which observation supports your answer from the question above?

• It is hard.

• It is heavy.

• It is not moving.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Which of the following best describes balanced forces?

• Forces that cause an object to accelerate

• Forces that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction

• Forces that act in the same direction

• Forces that cause an object to change shape

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

• It accelerates

• It remains stationary or moves at constant velocity

• It changes direction

• It deforms

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2