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Balanced and Unbalanced �Forces

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What is a force?

  • A force is a push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or change direction

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  • In physics a force is anything that makes an object accelerate

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Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

  • Forces occur in pairs and they can be either balanced or unbalanced

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Balanced Forces

  • Balanced forces do NOT cause CHANGE in motion
  • They are equal in size and opposite in direction

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Examples of Balanced Forces

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Moving Objects Can Be BALANCED, too!

  • IF the object that is moving continues to move at the same speed and in the same direction!!

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Unbalanced Forces

  • An unbalanced force always causes a change in motion

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  • They are UNEQUAL in size.

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  • When unbalanced forces act in opposite directions you can find the net force
    • Net force
      • Magnitude
        • The difference between the two forces

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      • Direction
        • Direction of the largest force

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Unbalanced Forces

  • Cause an object to speed up…

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  • Cause an object to slow down…

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  • Cause an object to CHANGE DIRECTION

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Examples of Unbalanced Forces

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Remember those balanced moving objects?!

  • They become UNBALANCED when they change speed (accelerate or decelerate) OR change DIRECTIONS.

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  • If a car is traveling at a CONSTANT SPEED, but turns (changes directions), it is still UNBALANCED!

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If speed remains the same, but directions changes…

If direction remains the same, but speed changes…

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Unbalanced Forces

3 N, right – 6 N, left = 3N, left

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Unbalanced Forces

4 N, left – 10 N, right =

6N, right

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Unbalanced Forces

5 N, right + 10 N, right =

15N, right

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Balanced or Unbalanced Forces?

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