Net Force

Question 1

What is net force?

Answer 1

Net force is the sum of all forces acting upon a body

The overall force acting on a body when all individual forces have been considered

Question 2

What does it mean when the net force = 0

Answer 2

All the forces are balanced

There is no change in motion

Question 3

What does it mean when the net force is positive?

Answer 3

The forces are unbalanced

The body will accelerate

Question 4

What does it mean when the net force is negative?

Answer 4

The forces are unbalanced

The body will decelerate

Question 5

How does net force link to Newton’s first law of motion?

Answer 5

NL1 states that : a body will remain at rest or uniform velocity until an external or unbalanced force has acted upon it

When net force = 0 there is no change in motion so body will remain at at rest uniform velocity until an external of unbalanced force has acted upon it

Question 6

How does net force link to Newton’s second law of motion?

Answer 6

NL2 states that: the rate of change in momentum of a body is proportional to the size of the force and acts in the same direction

When the net force is positive or negative the body will either accelerate or decelerate depending on the force applied