Determine the net force...

Question

What is the net force of a 4.0 N force and an 6.0 N force acting on an object for each of the following conditions?

(a) The forces act in opposite directions.
___ N

(b) The forces act in the same direction.
___ N

Answer 1

a) If 6 N is positive direction and 4 N is negative direction.  Then the net force is 2 N.

 

6 N - 4 N = 2 N

 

Or you can subtract the scalar values of force and go with the direction in which the applied force is greater.

 

 

b) In the same direction, you will add up these forces.  This means your net force is 10 N in that initial direction.