Which example shows an object acted on by two balanced forces?
A baseball rolling to a stop
A car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction
A snowflake landing on a roof
A skateboard rolling down a hill with increasing speed
A car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction
The example that shows an object acted on by two balanced forces is the "A car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction." When a car is moving at a constant speed in a constant direction, the driving force provided by the car's engine is balanced by the opposing forces like friction and air resistance, resulting in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
To determine which example shows an object acted on by two balanced forces, we need to understand the concept of balanced forces.
Balanced forces occur when two or more forces acting on an object with equal magnitudes and opposite directions cancel each other out, resulting in no change in the object's motion. In other words, the object remains either at rest or moves at a constant velocity.
Let's analyze the given examples:
1. A baseball rolling to a stop:
In this scenario, the baseball is experiencing frictional force opposing its motion. As the ball rolls, the force of friction acts in the opposite direction. However, the force of friction is not balanced by any other force, so the ball eventually comes to a stop. Therefore, this example does not represent an object acted on by two balanced forces.
2. A car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction:
When a car moves at a constant speed in a constant direction, the driving force exerted by the engine is balanced by the opposing forces, such as friction and air resistance. As a result, the car maintains a constant velocity. So, this example represents an object acted on by two balanced forces.
3. A snowflake landing on a roof:
As a snowflake falls and lands on a roof, the force of gravity acts on it, causing it to accelerate downward. However, there is no other force present to balance or cancel out the force of gravity. Therefore, this example does not represent an object acted on by two balanced forces.
4. A skateboard rolling down a hill with increasing speed:
When a skateboard rolls down a hill with increasing speed, multiple forces are at play, such as the force of gravity and the force of the skateboard pushing against the ground. However, these forces are not balanced. The force of gravity is greater than the force pushing against the ground, resulting in an acceleration and an increase in speed. Thus, this example does not represent an object acted on by two balanced forces.
Based on the analysis, the example that shows an object acted on by two balanced forces is:
- A car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction.