Question

Why do two forces act in the same direction add together instead of canceling each other out

Answer 1

Two forces act in the same direction and add together because they are acting on the same object and have the same effect. If two forces are acting on an object in the same direction, they both contribute to the overall force applied to the object. This leads to an increase in the net force, resulting in a greater acceleration or deceleration of the object, depending on its mass.

When forces are added together, we are using vector addition. Each force has both magnitude (strength) and direction, and when two forces act in the same direction, their magnitudes are added together. As a result, the overall force on the object becomes the sum of the individual forces, rather than cancelling each other out.