what term refers to the sum of all of the forces acting on an object?

resultant?

The term that refers to the sum of all the forces acting on an object is called the net force.

To understand how to calculate the net force, you first need to have a basic understanding of forces. A force is a push or pull that can cause an object to accelerate, decelerate, or change direction. Forces have magnitude (strength) and direction.

When multiple forces act on an object, they can either be in the same direction (leading to an increase in force), or in opposite directions (leading to a decrease in force). The net force is the vector sum of all these individual forces acting on an object.

To calculate the net force, you need to determine the magnitude and direction of each individual force acting on the object. If the forces are acting along the same line, you can simply add or subtract their magnitudes to find the net force. If the forces are acting at different angles, vector addition is used to find the resultant force.

For example, if two forces of 5 Newtons and 3 Newtons act in the same direction on an object, the net force will be the sum of these forces: 5 + 3 = 8 Newtons.

On the other hand, if two forces of 5 Newtons and 3 Newtons act in opposite directions on an object, the net force will be the difference between these forces: 5 - 3 = 2 Newtons.

It is important to note that when the net force on an object is zero, it means the forces are balanced, and the object remains in a state of equilibrium or constant velocity. When the net force is non-zero, the object will experience an acceleration, resulting in a change in motion.