Final answer:
The velocity of an object can change when the forces on the object are unbalanced in three ways: speeding up, slowing down, and changing direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the forces on an object are unbalanced, the velocity of the object can change in three ways:
- Speeding up: If the force is applied in the same direction as the object's motion, it will cause the object to accelerate and its velocity to increase.
- Slowing down: If the force is applied in the opposite direction of the object's motion, it will cause the object to decelerate and its velocity to decrease.
- Changing direction: If the force is applied perpendicular to the object's motion, it can cause the object to change direction without changing its speed.