Question

Calculate the net force, indicate if the forces are balanced or unbalanced, indicate whether or not the object accelerates. Refer to the provided image for options (a), (b), and (c).

Answer 1

To determine the net force acting on an object, draw a free-body diagram, decide if forces are balanced or unbalanced, apply Newton's second law, calculate acceleration if needed, and ensure the answer is reasonable.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the net force acting on an object and determine whether the forces are balanced or unbalanced, and consequently, whether the object accelerates, follow these steps:

1. Draw a free-body diagram showing all external forces acting on the object.
2. Analyze the forces to determine if they are balanced (Fnet = 0) or unbalanced (Fnet ≠ 0). If the forces are balanced, the object does not accelerate. If the forces are unbalanced, the object does.
3. Apply Newton's second law in the horizontal and vertical directions. If the object accelerates in a particular direction, write Fnet x = ma; if it does not, write Fnet x = 0.
4. Calculate the values of the acceleration if necessary and check that the units are correct and the answer is reasonable.

If considering scenario 'd' where the friction is given as 15.0 N, you would incorporate this value into your calculations to find the new acceleration.