Question

The image below shows a force of 10 N being applied to an object. The force is being applied toward the right, so the object is accelerating to the right. No other force is acting on the object. Examine the image. Then, answer the question that follows. A second force of 7 N is applied to the object. If this second force is applied toward the left while the first force is still being applied toward the right, which of the following will occur? Answer: The object will continue moving toward the right, but its rate of acceleration will decrease.

Answer 1

As the first force of 10 N is being applied toward the right, the object is accelerating to the right. If a second force of 7 N is applied toward the left while the first force is still being applied toward the right, then the net force acting on the object would be the difference between the two forces, which is 3 N toward the right.

Therefore, the object would still be accelerating toward the right, but at a slower rate than before, since the net force acting on it is now 3 N instead of 10 N. The magnitude of the acceleration would be smaller, but the direction would still be to the right.