Question

Ritically evaluate and argue against the statement: "If the net force acting on an object is in the positive x-direction, the object moves only in the positive x-direction." Provide a well-reasoned explanation, considering fundamental principles of physics, to demonstrate why this statement is incorrect.

Ensure your response is comprehensive and utilizes appropriate scientific reasoning to refute the given statement.

Answer 1

The statement is incorrect because an object may still move in the positive x-direction with reduced acceleration if there is another force acting on it in the opposite direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement “If the net force acting on an object is in the positive x-direction, the object moves only in the positive x-direction” is incorrect. According to Newton’s second law of motion, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. If there are no other forces acting on the object, it will indeed move in the positive x-direction. However, if there is another force acting on the object in the opposite direction, the object may still move in the positive x-direction, but with a reduced acceleration.