Final answer:
To find the net force when two forces act in opposite directions on an object, subtract one force from the other, considering direction. The forces are vectors, so direction is essential, and the net force is the vector sum of the forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you have two forces acting in opposite directions on one object, you can find the net force by subtracting one from the other. In the context of physics, forces are vectors, which means they have both magnitude and direction. When adding forces together, it is crucial to consider both these factors. If we have one force acting to the left (which we can consider negative) and another force acting to the right (positive), the net force is found by adding the two forces considering their signs. If the magnitudes of the forces are different, the smaller force will partially cancel out the larger one, but a net force will remain that is equal to the difference between the two.
For instance, if Force A (to the left) is 10 newtons and Force B (to the right) is 15 newtons, the net force would be 5 newtons to the right, since these forces are acting on the same object and in a straight line. This is consistent with Essential Knowledge 3.B.1, which states that the net force is the vector sum of the individual forces.