which example shows an object acted on by two balanced forces.
A. a baseball rolling to a stop
B. a car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction
C. a snowflake landing on a roof
D. a sateboard rolling down a hill with increasing speed
B. a car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction
Option B. a car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction shows an object acted on by two balanced forces.
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 forces acting on an object are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, canceling each other out and resulting in no net force acting on the object.
Now let's analyze each example and determine the presence of balanced forces:
A. a baseball rolling to a stop: In this scenario, we have two forces acting on the baseball - gravity pulling it downward and friction opposing its motion. However, these forces are not balanced because the force of friction is greater than the force of gravity, slowing down the baseball. Therefore, this choice does not represent an object acted on by two balanced forces.
B. a car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction: In this situation, the car experiences two balanced forces - the force of the engine propelling it forward and the resistive forces of friction and air resistance acting against it. Since the car is moving at a constant speed without any change in motion, the net force is zero. Therefore, this choice represents an object acted on by two balanced forces.
C. a snowflake landing on a roof: In this case, the snowflake experiences two forces - gravity pulling it downward and air resistance pushing against it as it falls. These forces are not balanced because gravity is greater than air resistance, causing the snowflake to accelerate downwards. Therefore, this choice does not represent an object acted on by two balanced forces.
D. a skateboard rolling down a hill with increasing speed: In this scenario, the skateboard is subject to two forces - gravity pulling it down the hill and friction opposing its motion. These forces are unbalanced because gravity is greater than the force of friction, causing the skateboard to accelerate downhill and its speed to increase. Thus, this choice does not represent an object acted on by two balanced forces.
In conclusion, option B, "a car moving at a constant speed in a constant direction," represents an example of an object acted on by two balanced forces.