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what is the net force if one person is pushing on a box with 60 N of force to the right and another person is pushing on the box with 30 N of force to the left?

User Damith
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

The net force on the box is 30 N to the right.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the net force on the box, we must add all of the forces together. In order to do this successfully, we must establish a positive and a negative direction. Let’s say that the positive direction is towards the right and the negative direction is towards the left.

Knowing this, we can set up the following equation:

Net force = F1 + F2

Now we can substitute in our known values for the forces given in the problem.

Net force = 60 N + (-30 N)

If we simplify and solve, we get

Net force = 60-30 = 30 N

Since we established the right as the positive direction, we know that the answer is 30 N to the right. If we think about this problem conceptually, this answer makes sense because the 30 N force to the left cancels out 30 N of the force towards the right, because they are acting in opposite directions.

Hope this helps!

User Andrew Anderson
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