A box is initially at rest on a frictionless surface. It then experiences two forces, as shown in the picture.
20 N → Box ← 18 N
Which best describes what will happen to the box?
A. It will move at a constant speed to the right.
B. It will move at a constant speed to the left
C. It will move at an increasing speed to the left.
D. It will move at an increasing speed to the right.
To determine what will happen to the box, we need to consider the net force acting on it. The net force is found by adding the individual forces together. In this case, we have a force of 20 N acting to the right and a force of 18 N acting to the left.
To find the net force, we subtract the force acting to the left from the force acting to the right:
Net force = 20 N - 18 N = 2 N to the right
Since the net force is to the right and there is no friction to oppose the motion, the box will move to the right. The net force of 2 N is also small, so the box will move at a constant speed to the right.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
A. It will move at a constant speed to the right.