Forces Balanced and Unbalanced

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 + b2 = c2
4N West c2 = 42 + 32
c2 = 16 + 9
3N c2 = 25
South =
5N
South c = 5 N SW
West
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
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 Unbalanced Forces
can combine to move an object that has too
much inertia for Cause
one forceAcceleration
alone. The forces “add together”!
Adding Forces:
What you5 just

N
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 forces will subtract from each other!
Cause Acceleration
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 Acceleration
Push
10N 10N
or change in Net Force = 0
i.e. Pushing a motion
Car
Balanced No Acceleration
10N 10N Pull or change in Net Force = 0
i.e. Tug-o-war motion
Review Un-Balanced Forces
Add Together
10N Un-Balanced Faster
10N Net Force > 0
Same Direction Acceleration
Subtract from each

other
Un-Balanced
10N Slower
10N
10N
Opposite Net Force > 0
Acceleration
Direction

Forces Balanced and Unbalanced

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Learning Objectives

• I can recognize forces that affect the motion of

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

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

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

• When forces are applied in the

• When two forces act in opposite directions, you

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

 If more than one force is present, it does not

 If another force “balances” the first out, there

Think: If both guys (who weight the same)

Gravity pulls down

The ground pushes back up…

Forces may cancel each other and

Kicking the ball causes it to move

• When unbalanced forces act in opposite directions you can find

3 N, right – 6 N, left = 3N, left

4 N, left – 10 N, right = 6N, right

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

What you5 just

Notice that all the new forces are pointed in the

All by himself, one person might not be able to

Notice that the forces are “unequal” and

The end result is that the forces on the left

Subtract from each

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