Final answer:
The process of combining two independent forces to calculate their combined effect is called vector summation. This method relies on understanding forces as vectors, which involves direction and magnitude, and using graphical or analytical techniques to determine the net force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of taking two independent forces acting on an object and calculating their combined force is termed vector summation of forces. Forces are vector quantities, which means they have both magnitude and direction. The net force acting on a system is the vector sum of all the external forces. To determine the net force, a free-body diagram may be useful, which is a graphical representation of the forces acting on an object. When calculating the combined effect of multiple forces, you can use methods such as the head-to-tail method or trigonometric methods for vector addition, as seen in the study of Two-Dimensional Kinematics. Dynamics, on the other hand, is concerned with analyzing how these forces affect the motion of objects and systems. Understanding how to correctly add forces together helps us predict and calculate the resulting acceleration using Newton's second law of motion, expressed as Σ Fx = max and Σ Fy = may for the forces in the x and y directions respectively.