Learning Objectives

• I can recognize forces that affect the motion of

matter.
• I can compare balanced and unbalanced forces.
• I can determine the net force on an object.
 What is a force?

• A force is a push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or

change direction

• In physics a force is anything that makes an object accelerate

• If an object is stationary, it won’t start moving without a force.

 Force
• Forces come in pairs
• Forces have a magnitude and a direction
• Force is a vector quantity

Magnitude: 5N
5N, north (up)
Direction: north (up)
 Force Measurement and Units
• SI unit for force is the Newton
• A Newton is a force that causes a 1kg mass to accelerate
at a rate of 1m/s/s.
• 1 N (Newton) = 1 kg * m/s/s
• We use a spring scale to measure force.
 Combining Forces
• Net Force – The overall force acting on an object after all
forces are combined.
- Forces in the same direction we add them.
10N 10N Net Force = 10N
+ =
- Forces in opposite directions you subtract them.
10N 7N Net Force = 3N
- =
 Forces in the Same Direction

• When forces are applied in the

same direction, they are added to
determine the size of the net force.
 Forces in Different Directions

• When two forces act in opposite directions, you

subtract the smaller force from the larger force to
determine the net force.
• The net force will be in the same direction as the
larger force.
 Combining Forces at Right Angles
• Use the Pythagorean Theorem.
a2 + b2 = c2.
Can only use if adding only 2 vectors that make a right
angle.
hy
po c
ten
b us
e

a
 Combining Forces at Right Angles
• Use the Pythagorean Theorem a2 + b2 = c2.
ex. What is the resultant force if you have a force 3N South
and another force 4N West and show the diagram.
a2 + b 2 = c 2
4N West c2 = 4 2 + 3 2
c2 = 16 + 9
3N c2 = 25
South =
5N
South c = 5 N SW
West
 Newton’s First Law (Inertia) & Second
Law
► "Anobject remains at rest or continues in uniform
motion unless acted upon by an external unbalanced
force.“ Explains motion under balanced forces.

► F=ma
Net force causes acceleration
Unbalanced force causes:
Acceleration= Net force/Mass
 Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

• Forces occur in pairs and they can be either balanced or

unbalanced
Balanced Forces: The forces in each direction
are “equal”.
 If more than one force is present, it does
not have to cause an acceleration on an
object.

 If another force “balances” the first out,

there will be no acceleration at all.

Think: If both guys (who weight the same)

pull on a rope in opposite directions, with
an equal amount of force, how much will they move?
 Balanced Forces
• Balanced forces do not cause a change in motion
• They are equal in size and opposite in direction
• The net force is 0
 Example:

Ground pushes up

Gravity pulls down

Gravity pulls down on you…

The ground pushes back up…

If these football players push
THIS KEEPS YOU WHERE YOU ARE! on each other equally as hard,
will either one move?
 More Balanced Forces…
5N 5N

Forces may cancel each other and

produce no movement
=No Acceleration!
 “Unbalanced” Forces
If the multiple forces
acting at one time
are not balanced out
(equal), then
acceleration can/will
occur on the object!

Kicking the ball causes it to move

quickly in a different direction
If one side of the scale has more mass,
then gravity will accelerate it down!
 Unbalanced Forces
• An unbalanced force always causes a change in motion
• The net force is greater than 0

• When unbalanced forces act in opposite directions you can find

the net force
– Net force
• Magnitude
– The difference between the two forces

• Direction
– Direction of the largest force
Unbalanced Forces

3 N, right – 6 N, left = 3N, left

Unbalanced Forces

4 N, left – 10 N, right = 6N, right

Unbalanced Forces

5 N, right + 10 N, right =15N, right

 Multiple forces can combine to move an object
Unbalanced Forces
that has too much inertia for one force alone. The
Cause Acceleration
forces “add together”!
Adding Forces:

What you5Njust
saw was like
two people Random Object
pushing on the
same 5 N
box.

Notice that all the new forces are pointed in the

same direction, and they add together! So,
instead of only 5N of force pushing the object;
now there are 10 N of force pushing!

All by himself, one person might not be able to

push a car. But with extra friends pushing, it
becomes much easier! The forces add together.
 Unbalanced Forces
If forces are not equal and are acting in opposite
directions, a negative acceleration can/will occur. The
Cause Acceleration
forces will subtract from each other!
Subtracting Forces:

5N
Object 5N
5N

Notice that the forces are “unequal” and

pointed in the opposite direction. So they are
“unbalanced” and work against each other –
or one partially cancels the other.

The end result is that the forces on the left

are slowed down by the single force on the right
 Review Balanced Forces

Balanced No
10N 10N
Push Acceleration Net Force =
i.e. Pushing a or change in 0
Car motion

Balanced No
Acceleration or Net Force =
10N 10N Pull
change in 0
i.e. Tug-o-war motion
 Review Un-Balanced Forces
Add Together
Un-Balanced
10N Faster Net Force >
10N Same 0
Acceleration
Direction

Subtract from each

other
Un-Balanced
10N Slower Net Force >
10N
10N Opposite 0
Acceleration
Direction
 QUESTIONS
Q1:A car is moving at a constant speed of 60 km/h. The engine
provides a forward force of 1000 N. What is the resistive force
acting on the car?
Q2:A 10 kg box is pushed with a force of 50 N to the right. The
frictional force is 20 N to the left. What is the acceleration?
Q3:A hockey puck slides on ice at a constant speed. What force is
needed to keep it moving?
Q4:A skydiver falls with increasing speed until they reach
terminal velocity. Are forces balanced at terminal velocity?
 QUESTIONS:
• Q5: A person is standing in an elevator that is
accelerating upward. Are the forces on the person
balanced or unbalanced? Explain how you know.
• Q6: A skydiver jumps out of a plane and eventually
reaches terminal velocity. Are the forces balanced or
unbalanced at that point? Justify your answer.
 Answers:
Answer1: Since the car moves at constant speed, the forces are balanced.
Forward force = Resistive force --------Resistive force = 1000 N
Answer 2: Net force: Fnet= 50N-20N=30N
Use F=ma a=F/m ---- 30/10 ------ 3m/s2
Acceleration = 3 m/s² to the right
Answer3: No force is needed (assuming frictionless ice).
Newton's First Law: It continues moving unless acted on by an unbalanced
force.
Answer4: Yes — at terminal velocity:
Air resistance = Weight
Net force = 0 → No further acceleration (So the forces are balanced at
terminal velocity.
 ANSWERS:
Ans 5: The forces are unbalanced. The normal force
from the elevator floor is greater than the person's
weight, causing a net upward force and thus upward
acceleration. If the forces were balanced, the person
would move at constant velocity or be stationary.
Ans 6: At terminal velocity, the forces are balanced.
The downward force of gravity is exactly matched by
the upward air resistance (drag). Since the net force is
zero, the skydiver stops accelerating and continues
falling at a constant speed.