Final answer:
The statement is FALSE as forces must be equal and opposite to balance an object. This is in accordance with Newton's first law of motion regarding objects in motion staying in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force.
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance an object, the forces acting on it must be equal and opposite. Therefore, if there is a force of 40 Newtons to the left on an object, it must be counteracted by 40 Newtons to the right, not 50 Newtons, to achieve balance and a net force of zero Newtons. Hence, the statement "To balance the object, 40 Newton left must be counteracted by 50N right" is FALSE.
A clear understanding of Newton's first law of motion, often referred to as the law of inertia, supports this fact. An object in motion will stay in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force. If friction opposes motion with a force equal in magnitude to the applied force but in the opposite direction, the forces cancel and the object will move with a constant velocity.
Similarly, according to Newton's third law of motion, if one object exerts a force on another object, there will be an equal and opposite reaction force. This is exemplified when a person walks: the force exerted by the person on the ground and the force the ground exerts back on the person are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, allowing the person to move forward.