Question

A puppy finds a rawhide bone and begins to pull it with a force, Ft. The free-body diagram is shown.

A free body diagram with 4 force vectors. The first vector is pointing downward, labeled F Subscript g Baseline = negative 8 N. The second vector is pointing right, labeled F Subscript t Baseline = 6 N. The third vector is pointing upward, labeled F Subscript N Baseline = 8 N. The fourth vector is pointing left, labeled F Subscript f Baseline = negative 4 N. The up and down vectors are the same length. The right vector is longer than the left vector.

Which describes what happens to the bone?

It begins to move toward the right.
It stays in static equilibrium.
It stays in dynamic equilibrium.
It begins to move toward the left.

Answer 1

Sum of vertical forces is zero (8 N up and 8 N down), but horizontal net force is 6 N right − 4 N left = 2 N right. Because there is a net force to the right, the bone begins to move (accelerate) to the right.