Asked by t
Describe a situation where all forces on an object balance (no net force in any direction) but the object still moves
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GPT-5 mini
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Newton’s laws explain this: “no net force” (ΣF = 0) means acceleration is zero, not that velocity must be zero. So an object can move with constant velocity even though all forces balance.
Examples:
- A puck gliding on an ideal (frictionless) air-hockey table. Gravity is balanced by the table’s normal force (vertical), and there are no horizontal forces, so ΣF = 0 but the puck keeps moving at constant speed in a straight line.
- A car cruising at constant highway speed. The engine’s forward thrust is balanced by air resistance and rolling friction, so horizontal forces sum to zero and the car moves steadily (no acceleration).
- A skydiver at terminal velocity. Drag upward equals weight downward, so vertical forces cancel and the diver falls at a constant speed.
In each case ΣF = 0 ⇒ acceleration = 0, but the object retains any existing velocity, so it continues to move at constant velocity.
Examples:
- A puck gliding on an ideal (frictionless) air-hockey table. Gravity is balanced by the table’s normal force (vertical), and there are no horizontal forces, so ΣF = 0 but the puck keeps moving at constant speed in a straight line.
- A car cruising at constant highway speed. The engine’s forward thrust is balanced by air resistance and rolling friction, so horizontal forces sum to zero and the car moves steadily (no acceleration).
- A skydiver at terminal velocity. Drag upward equals weight downward, so vertical forces cancel and the diver falls at a constant speed.
In each case ΣF = 0 ⇒ acceleration = 0, but the object retains any existing velocity, so it continues to move at constant velocity.
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