Assume all other forces on the dresser are balanced. Which statement describes the forces on the dresser?
The forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on the dresser. The forces are balanced, so there is no net force on the dresser.
Sophie is sliding a heavy dresser across the carpeted floor of her apartment. She is pushing the dresser forward with a force of 350N. The carpet is pushing the dresser backward with a force of 380N.
A force is a push or a pull that acts on an object. Every force has a direction and a magnitude, or strength. If two forces act on an object in opposite directions, the forces are called opposing forces.
When opposing forces have the same magnitude, they are balanced. If all the forces on an object are balanced, there is no net force on the object.
When opposing forces have different magnitudes, the forces are unbalanced. If any forces on an object are unbalanced, there is a net force on the object.
To determine if there is a net force on the dresser, look at the forces:
Sophie is pushing the dresser forward with a force of 350 N.
The carpet is pushing the dresser backward with a force of 380 N.
The forces are in opposite directions, and the forces have different magnitudes: 350 N and 380 N. This means that the forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on the dresser.