Select the three situations in which unbalanced forces are acting on the objects.

Question

(3 points)
Responses

A basketball gaining speed as it rolls down a ramp.
A basketball gaining speed as it rolls down a ramp.

A motorcycle parked in a driveway.
A motorcycle parked in a driveway.

A rollercoaster slowing down as it nears the top of a hill.
A rollercoaster slowing down as it nears the top of a hill.

A car moving at a constant speed in a straight direction.
A car moving at a constant speed in a straight direction.

A race car moving at a constant speed around a circular track.

Answer 1

The three situations in which unbalanced forces are acting on the objects are:

1. A basketball gaining speed as it rolls down a ramp.

   • Unbalanced forces are acting on the basketball as it accelerates down the ramp due to gravity.

2. A rollercoaster slowing down as it nears the top of a hill.

   • Unbalanced forces are acting on the rollercoaster as it experiences a decrease in speed, indicating that the forces are not in equilibrium.

3. A race car moving at a constant speed around a circular track.

   • While the speed is constant, the direction is changing, which means there is an unbalanced force acting on the car (centripetal force) to keep it moving in a circular path.

The other situations involve either balanced forces (the motorcycle parked in a driveway is at rest, and thus forces are balanced) or constant speed in a straight line (which also indicates balanced forces, as in the case of the car moving at a constant speed).