Question

The sum of the forces is calculated by

A. adding together the force that each team applies.
B. dividing the larger team's force by the smaller team's force.
C. taking the difference between the force that each team applies.
D. multiplying the forces that each team applies.

Answer 1

In physics, the net force is calculated by vectorially adding together the forces applied, considering both magnitude and direction. The correct method is A. adding together the force that each team applies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sum of the forces in a situation, like a game of tug-of-war or a heavy box being moved, is found by adding together the forces that each side or person applies. It's important to note that forces are vector quantities, which means they have both magnitude (how strong they are) and direction (which way they're pulling or pushing).

When calculating the sum of forces, you need to consider both of these factors. If forces are applied in the same direction, their magnitudes add up. However, if they are applied in opposite directions, one force's magnitude is subtracted from the other's. For example, if you pull on a box with force F1 and your friend pulls in the opposite direction with force F2, the total force (Ftotal) would be F1 - F2, if F1 is greater than F2.

The correct answer to the student's question is A. Adding together the force that each team applies.