Two construction workers are attempting to pull a slab of concrete off of the ground. Each of the workers are pulling up with a force of 225 N, while the slab of concrete applies a gravitational force of 400 N in the opposite direction, remaining stationary. If the pulling forces applied to the slab of concrete are assigned a positive value, what is the net force of the scenario, and in which direction will the slab of concrete move? (1 point) Responses 175 N; the slab will move upward 175 N; the slab will move upward 50 N; the slab will move upward 50 N; the slab will move upward -175 N; the slab will remain stationary -175 N; the slab will remain stationary -50 N; the slab will remain stationary

Answer 1

To calculate the net force in this scenario, we can first determine the total upward force applied by the two construction workers and then subtract the gravitational force acting downward on the slab of concrete.

1. The total upward force from the two workers is: \[ F_{\text{upward}} = 225, \text{N} + 225, \text{N} = 450, \text{N} \]

2. The downward gravitational force on the slab is: \[ F_{\text{downward}} = 400, \text{N} \]

3. The net force is then calculated by subtracting the downward force from the total upward force: \[ F_{\text{net}} = F_{\text{upward}} - F_{\text{downward}} = 450, \text{N} - 400, \text{N} = 50, \text{N} \]

Since we assigned the upward pulling forces a positive value, the net force of 50 N is positive, which indicates that the slab will move upward.

Thus, the answer is: 50 N; the slab will move upward.