What is the net force acting on an object if balanced forces are applied?

The correct answer is Zero.

Key Points

• Balanced forces occur when the net force acting on an object is zero, meaning the forces acting on the object are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
• When forces are balanced, the object remains in its current state of motion—either at rest or moving with constant velocity—as per Newton’s First Law of Motion.
• Balanced forces result in no acceleration of the object, as net force is directly proportional to acceleration (F = ma).
• Examples of balanced forces include a book resting on a table where the gravitational force is counteracted by the normal force of the table.
• In the context of balanced forces, the term “net force” is defined as the vector sum of all forces acting on an object, which equals zero in this case.

Additional Information

• Newton’s First Law of Motion: Also known as the law of inertia, it states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.
• Net Force: The overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces are combined. If the forces cancel out, the net force is zero.
• Unbalanced Forces: When the forces acting on an object do not cancel out, resulting in a nonzero net force that causes the object to accelerate.
• Force Measurement: Force is measured in Newtons (N), named after Sir Isaac Newton, and is calculated using the formula F = ma (Force = mass × acceleration).
• Equilibrium Condition: An object is said to be in mechanical equilibrium when the sum of all forces and torques acting on it is zero, leading to no change in its motion.