Question

The diagrams below show forces acting on a toy car as it moves to the right which diagram shows the toy car that will most likely accelerate to the right based on these conditions?

Answer 1

Option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

To know which option is correct, let us calculate the net force in each case to know which will move to the right direction.

Option 1:

Force to the right (Fᵣ) = 8 N

Force to the left (Fₗ) = 6 N

Net force (Fₙ) =?

Fₙ = Fᵣ – Fₗ

Fₙ = 8 – 6

Fₙ = 2 N to the right

Option 2:

Force to the right (Fᵣ) = 8 N

Force to the left (Fₗ) = 10 N

Net force (Fₙ) =?

Fₙ = Fₗ – Fᵣ

Fₙ = 10 – 8

Fₙ = 2 N to the left

Option 3:

Force to the right (Fᵣ) = 10 N

Force to the left (Fₗ) = 10 N

Net force (Fₙ) =?

Fₙ = Fᵣ – Fₗ

Fₙ = 10 – 10

Fₙ = 0 (no movement)

Option 4:

Force to the right (Fᵣ) = 10 N

Force to the left (Fₗ) = 13 N

Net force (Fₙ) =?

Fₙ = Fₗ – Fᵣ

Fₙ = 13 – 10

Fₙ = 3 N to the left

From the illustrations made above, only option 1 has a net force toward the right direction. Therefore, only option 1 will have an acceleration towards the right direction.