To find the net force acting on the object, we will consider the directions of the forces.
One force is 30 N directed west, and the other force is 12 N directed east. We can consider west as negative and east as positive.
- The force directed west: \( F_{west} = -30 , \text{N} \)
- The force directed east: \( F_{east} = +12 , \text{N} \)
Now we can calculate the net force:
\[ F_{net} = F_{west} + F_{east} = -30 , \text{N} + 12 , \text{N} = -18 , \text{N} \]
The negative sign indicates that the net force is directed west.
Thus, the net force on the object is 18 N directed west.