Force diagrams illustrating balanced and unbalanced forces and their effects on motion.
Four force diagrams showing balanced and unbalanced forces on different objects: a car, a running person, a ball, and a person on a skateboard.
PNG
409×307
15 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #626632
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Force Diagrams (Resultant, Equilibrium)
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Force Diagrams (Resultant, Equilibrium)
Let's analyze each of the force diagrams in your image and determine whether the forces are balanced or unbalanced, and if unbalanced, what the resultant force is and what is happening to the object.
---
- Forces:
- Left: 800 N
- Right: 1,000 N
- Analysis:
- The forces are not equal.
- Net force = 1,000 N (right) – 800 N (left) = 200 N to the right.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces.
- Resultant force: 200 N to the right.
- The car will accelerate to the right.
---
- Forces:
- Left: 200 N
- Right: 450 N
- Analysis:
- Not equal; net force = 450 N – 200 N = 250 N to the right.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces.
- Resultant force: 250 N to the right.
- The person is accelerating forward (to the right).
---
- Forces:
- Upward: 20 N
- Downward: 20 N
- Analysis:
- Equal and opposite forces.
- Net force = 0 N.
- Conclusion:
- Balanced forces.
- No acceleration. The ball is either at rest or moving at constant velocity.
---
- Forces:
- Upward: 200 N (string)
- Downward: 200 N (gravity)
- Analysis:
- Equal and opposite vertical forces → net vertical force = 0.
- But no horizontal forces shown? Wait — actually, there’s a horizontal force of 100 N to the left.
- However, there is no opposing horizontal force shown.
- So:
- Vertical: balanced (200 N up vs 200 N down).
- Horizontal: 100 N to the left → unbalanced.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces (due to horizontal force).
- Resultant force: 100 N to the left.
- The block will accelerate to the left.
> ⚠️ Note: If the block is on a surface, we might expect friction, but it's not shown. Assuming no friction, the 100 N force will cause motion.
---
- Forces:
- Upward: 100 N (support from ground)
- Downward: 100 N (weight of table)
- Analysis:
- Equal and opposite forces.
- Net force = 0 N.
- Conclusion:
- Balanced forces.
- The table is stationary or moving at constant velocity.
---
- Forces:
- Parallel to slope: 400 N down the slope
- Perpendicular to slope: 200 N into the slope
- Analysis:
- There is a net force of 400 N down the slope.
- No opposing force along the slope is shown (like friction or tension), so this is unbalanced.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces.
- Resultant force: 400 N down the slope.
- The sled will accelerate down the slope.
---
| Diagram | Balanced/Unbalanced | Resultant Force | What’s Happening |
|--------|---------------------|------------------|-------------------|
| 1 (Car) | Unbalanced | 200 N → right | Accelerating right |
| 2 (Person) | Unbalanced | 250 N → right | Accelerating forward |
| 3 (Ball) | Balanced | 0 N | At rest or constant velocity |
| 4 (Block) | Unbalanced | 100 N ← left | Accelerating left |
| 5 (Table) | Balanced | 0 N | Stationary or constant velocity |
| 6 (Sled) | Unbalanced | 400 N ↓ slope | Accelerating down slope |
---
Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing or need help drawing the diagrams!
---
Diagram 1: Car
- Forces:
- Left: 800 N
- Right: 1,000 N
- Analysis:
- The forces are not equal.
- Net force = 1,000 N (right) – 800 N (left) = 200 N to the right.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces.
- Resultant force: 200 N to the right.
- The car will accelerate to the right.
---
Diagram 2: Person running
- Forces:
- Left: 200 N
- Right: 450 N
- Analysis:
- Not equal; net force = 450 N – 200 N = 250 N to the right.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces.
- Resultant force: 250 N to the right.
- The person is accelerating forward (to the right).
---
Diagram 3: Red ball hanging
- Forces:
- Upward: 20 N
- Downward: 20 N
- Analysis:
- Equal and opposite forces.
- Net force = 0 N.
- Conclusion:
- Balanced forces.
- No acceleration. The ball is either at rest or moving at constant velocity.
---
Diagram 4: Block on a surface with a string
- Forces:
- Upward: 200 N (string)
- Downward: 200 N (gravity)
- Analysis:
- Equal and opposite vertical forces → net vertical force = 0.
- But no horizontal forces shown? Wait — actually, there’s a horizontal force of 100 N to the left.
- However, there is no opposing horizontal force shown.
- So:
- Vertical: balanced (200 N up vs 200 N down).
- Horizontal: 100 N to the left → unbalanced.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces (due to horizontal force).
- Resultant force: 100 N to the left.
- The block will accelerate to the left.
> ⚠️ Note: If the block is on a surface, we might expect friction, but it's not shown. Assuming no friction, the 100 N force will cause motion.
---
Diagram 5: Table with upward force
- Forces:
- Upward: 100 N (support from ground)
- Downward: 100 N (weight of table)
- Analysis:
- Equal and opposite forces.
- Net force = 0 N.
- Conclusion:
- Balanced forces.
- The table is stationary or moving at constant velocity.
---
Diagram 6: Sled on an incline
- Forces:
- Parallel to slope: 400 N down the slope
- Perpendicular to slope: 200 N into the slope
- Analysis:
- There is a net force of 400 N down the slope.
- No opposing force along the slope is shown (like friction or tension), so this is unbalanced.
- Conclusion:
- Unbalanced forces.
- Resultant force: 400 N down the slope.
- The sled will accelerate down the slope.
---
✔ Summary Table:
| Diagram | Balanced/Unbalanced | Resultant Force | What’s Happening |
|--------|---------------------|------------------|-------------------|
| 1 (Car) | Unbalanced | 200 N → right | Accelerating right |
| 2 (Person) | Unbalanced | 250 N → right | Accelerating forward |
| 3 (Ball) | Balanced | 0 N | At rest or constant velocity |
| 4 (Block) | Unbalanced | 100 N ← left | Accelerating left |
| 5 (Table) | Balanced | 0 N | Stationary or constant velocity |
| 6 (Sled) | Unbalanced | 400 N ↓ slope | Accelerating down slope |
---
Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing or need help drawing the diagrams!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of net force arrows worksheet.