Final answer:
When two small figures are pulling in opposite directions, their forces cancel each other out, leading to a net force that can be zero or the difference in magnitude if they are unequal.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two small figures are pulling in opposite directions, their individual forces cancel each other out. This concept can be understood by considering the properties of forces. Forces are vectors, which means they have both magnitude and direction. When two forces act in opposite directions, they will subtract from one another. If the magnitudes of these forces are equal, they will cancel out completely, resulting in a net force of zero. However, if one force is stronger, the resultant force will be in the direction of the larger force, but with a magnitude reduced by the value of the smaller force.