Final answer:
Balanced forces keep an object at rest or in constant motion, while unbalanced forces cause acceleration in the direction of the force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effect of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object's motion can be explained using Newton's laws of motion. When the forces acting on an object are balanced, the object remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity. This is known as equilibrium.
On the other hand, when the forces acting on an object are unbalanced, the object will accelerate in the direction of the net force. The acceleration can be calculated using Newton's second law which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration.
Example: If a ball is placed on a table and no external forces act upon it, the forces acting on the ball are balanced, and it remains at rest. However, if a person pushes the ball with a force greater than the force of friction, the forces become unbalanced, and the ball will accelerate in the direction of the net force, which is the direction of the push.