An Introduction
In the statement of Newton’s first law, the unbalanced force means the force that does not become balanced by the other individual force. If all the up and down forces do not cancel each other and/or all the horizontal forces do not cancel each other, then there is an unbalanced force. It is commonly accepted that there is the ‘net force’ acting upon the object. The net force is the sum of all forces, considering the fact that a force is a vector and two forces of equal magnitude and opposite direction will cancel each other.
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The topic of Net Force Formula is a highly important formula for students to learn and get well-versed with. The formula is used in many real-life examples.
Net Force Equation
If N is the number of forces acting on the body, the net force formula is given by
FNet = F1 + F2 + F3 ....+ FN
Where F1, F2, F3 as forces acting on a body.
When a body is at rest, the net force formula is given by
FNet = Fa + Fg
Where,
Fa = Applied force and
Fg = Gravitational force.
Net force is when a body is in motion and many forces are active on it like gravitational force Fg, frictional force Ff, and the normal force.
Therefore, the net force formula is given by
FNet = Fa + Fg + Ff + FN.
Some Examples in Net Force Equation Physics
Example 1
In a game of rope pulling, a fat man pulls with a force of 100 N from one side, and a lean man pulls with 90 N from the other side. What will be the net force?
Solution:
Given
Force F1 = 100 N and
Force F2 = 90 N
The net force formula is given by
FNet = F1 + F2
FNet = 100 + (-90)
FNet = 10 N.
Therefore, the net force is 10 N.
Example 2
A truck is standing still and a force of 70 N is applied on it. If the frictional force is 20 N, then what will be the net force?
Solution:
Given
Applied force Fa = 70 N
Frictional force Ff = 20 N
The net force formula is given by
FNet = Fa + Ff
FNet = 70 + (-20)
FNet = 50 N
Therefore, the net force is 50 N.
Conclusion
Newton’s first law is very simple and explains the dynamics of a force on the body at rest and in motion accurately. However, according to Newton’s second law, the magnitude net force formula is derived considering the mass of the body and is stated as FNet= ma.
FAQs on Net Force Formula
1. Why is net force important?
Net Force is one of the most important formulas in physics. A force is said to be a net force if it is a sum of all forces, and it is acting in a single plane on any particular object. The Net Force is significant because it assists in interpreting the motion of any particular object. The Net Force formula can also be used to determine the acceleration of an object.
2. What happens when there is no net force?
If there is no Net Force that can be applied on any object, the object, if it is originally at rest, will continue being at rest. But if the object is initially moving, it will continue to move with its constant velocity in a straight line. So, to stop an initially moving object, or to move an initially stationary object, Net Force is used. Without the usage of Net Force, no stationary object can move. In the same way, no moving object can either stop or change its velocity.
3. Can any object be moved without net force?
The answer to this question is quite simple, it depends on the object. See, if an object is already moving, it will continue to move even if no Net Force is applied. So by this way, yes, the object can move or keep moving without any application of Net Force. But if an object is not moving and is at rest, then it will be stationary if no Net Force is applied. To put it simply, the object will continue doing what it was doing initially if no Net Force is applied.
4. What happens to an object when a net force is applied to it?
As we already know, Net Force is the collective aftermath of the force acting in a single plane on any particular object. Now, to answer the question, when a Net Force is applied to an object, it results in acceleration of the object in the direction of applied Net Force. The stationary object is forced to move in the direction of the applied Net Force. In the same way, an already moving object is forced to change its velocity and direction matching to that of the applied Net Force.