Question

Two forces act in opposite directions on a wood block. What will happen if the forces are unbalanced?

A. The block will balance the forces.
B. The forces will reverse direction.
C. The mass of the block will change.
D. The position of the block will change.

Answer 1

D

Step-by-step explanation:

If two unequal forces act in opposite directions, one larger force must cancel out the smaller force,

leaving the net force to be some number in one direction.

Take for example a game of tug-of-war; there are two OPPOSITE forces (groups of people) acting on the rope, one force is pulling with a force in the negative direction while the other force is pulling in the positive direction.

If the forces on the rope were unequal, then the stronger force (group) will pull everything in their direction.

The same will happen on two unequal forces of opposite directions acting on a wooden block. Therefore, since the resultant force will have a non-zero magnitude and direction, there will be a change in the block's motion and position.