Which term describes equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions?

Which term describes equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions?

• A. Balanced forces
• B. Unbalanced forces
• C. Net force
• D. Newton

Answer: (A)

When forces on an object are equal in size and opposite in direction, they cancel each other out, producing no net force and no acceleration. This situation is described as balanced forces. With a zero net force, the object either stays at rest or continues moving at a constant speed in a straight line, per Newton’s first law. The other terms aren’t describing this exact condition: unbalanced forces would cause acceleration; net force is the overall sum of all forces (which happens to be zero here, but that’s a consequence, not the description); a Newton is simply the unit used to measure force.

When forces on an object are equal in size and opposite in direction, they cancel each other out, producing no net force and no acceleration. This situation is described as balanced forces. With a zero net force, the object either stays at rest or continues moving at a constant speed in a straight line, per Newton’s first law. The other terms aren’t describing this exact condition: unbalanced forces would cause acceleration; net force is the overall sum of all forces (which happens to be zero here, but that’s a consequence, not the description); a Newton is simply the unit used to measure force.