Which statement is true about unbalanced forces?
A. They can change both an object's speed and direction.
B. They only change an object's direction
C. They have no impact on an object in motion.
D. They only change an object's speed.
A. They can change both an object's speed and direction.
A. They can change both an object's speed and direction.
To determine which statement is true about unbalanced forces, we need to understand what unbalanced forces are first.
Unbalanced forces refer to forces that are not in equilibrium, meaning that they are not balanced and there is a net force acting on an object. The net force is the vector sum of all the individual forces acting on an object.
Now, let's consider each statement:
A. They can change both an object's speed and direction.
This statement is true. Unbalanced forces can change an object's speed by accelerating or decelerating it and can also change its direction by causing it to turn or change its path.
B. They only change an object's direction.
This statement is not true. Unbalanced forces can change both an object's speed and direction, not just the direction.
C. They have no impact on an object in motion.
This statement is not true. Unbalanced forces have a significant impact on an object in motion as they can cause changes in speed and direction.
D. They only change an object's speed.
This statement is not true. Unbalanced forces can change both an object's speed and direction, not just the speed.
Therefore, the correct statement is:
A. They can change both an object's speed and direction.