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Quizzes > Science

Net Force Quiz: Test Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Quick, free practice with net force questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Minas KouzoupisUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 11
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art promoting Net Force Frenzy, a physics trivia quiz for high school students.

This quiz helps you practice net forces: read free-body diagrams, add vectors, and decide if forces are balanced or unbalanced. Use it to find weak spots and build speed before a test. Keep learning with a forces and motion unit test, check your understanding in a laws of motion quiz, or explore fields with an invisible forces quiz.

Which of the following best defines net force?
The overall force acting on an object considering both magnitude and direction.
The force due to gravity acting on an object.
The sum of an object's mass and acceleration.
The individual applied force without considering opposition.
Net force is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object, taking both magnitude and direction into account. This determines the object's acceleration when forces are unbalanced.
What is the net force acting on an object at rest when all forces balance out?
A large positive force.
An increasing force over time.
0 N
A large negative force.
When forces balance, they cancel each other out resulting in a net force of zero. This condition of equilibrium means there is no acceleration.
According to Newton's second law, what happens when the net force on an object is doubled while its mass remains constant?
The acceleration remains the same.
The acceleration doubles.
The acceleration halves.
The acceleration quadruples.
Newton's second law states that acceleration is directly proportional to the net force when mass is constant. Doubling the force results in a doubling of the acceleration.
Which of the following equations represents Newton's second law of motion?
F_net = m + a
F_net = a / m
F_net = m * a
F_net = m / a
Newton's second law is mathematically expressed as F_net = m * a, indicating the net force is the product of mass and acceleration. This is a fundamental principle in understanding motion.
If an object experiences a force of 5 N to the east and 5 N to the west, what is the net force on the object?
0 N
5 N to the east
10 N to the east
10 N to the west
Equal forces acting in opposite directions cancel each other out, resulting in a net force of zero. This is the hallmark of equilibrium in a system.
How do you determine the net force acting on an object when multiple forces are applied?
By calculating the vector sum of all forces.
By multiplying the accelerations produced by each force.
By adding the magnitudes of all forces without considering direction.
By subtracting the smallest force from the largest force.
The net force is determined by performing vector addition, which considers both magnitude and direction. Ignoring direction would yield an incorrect result.
A 10 kg object accelerates at 2 m/s². What is the net force acting on it?
12 N
20 N
22 N
5 N
Using Newton's second law, F_net = m * a, we multiply the mass (10 kg) by the acceleration (2 m/s²) to obtain 20 N. This straightforward calculation confirms the net force.
Which free-body diagram best represents an object in equilibrium on a horizontal surface?
A diagram showing no forces acting on the object.
A diagram showing two equal horizontal forces acting in the same direction.
A diagram showing upward normal force and downward gravitational force of equal magnitude.
A diagram showing only a downward gravitational force.
An object in equilibrium will have forces that balance each other out. The normal force counteracts gravity, keeping the object in balance with no net vertical force.
A box is pushed to the right with 15 N and pulled to the left with 5 N. What is the net force, and in which direction does it act?
0 N
10 N to the right
10 N to the left
20 N to the right
By subtracting the smaller force (5 N) from the larger force (15 N), we find the net force is 10 N acting to the right. Direction matters, and the net force points where the larger force is applied.
How does an increase in friction affect the net force acting on a moving object?
It reverses the direction of the net force.
It increases the net force.
It decreases the net force.
It does not change the net force.
Friction opposes the motion of an object, thereby reducing the effective net force acting to accelerate it. An increase in friction leads to a decreased net force available for motion.
Which two forces are balanced on an object resting on a horizontal surface?
Normal force and gravitational force.
Friction force and air resistance.
Applied force and friction.
Tension force and applied force.
For objects at rest on a horizontal surface, the gravitational force is balanced by the normal force. This cancellation prevents any net vertical acceleration.
An object moves in a circular path at constant speed. Where does the net force act?
Tangential to the circle.
Away from the center.
In the direction of the motion.
Toward the center of the circle.
In circular motion, even with constant speed, the object experiences centripetal acceleration directed toward the center. The net force causing this acceleration must, therefore, act inward.
On an inclined plane, which component of gravitational force causes the object to slide down?
The frictional force.
The component perpendicular to the incline.
The component parallel to the incline.
The normal force.
Gravity can be resolved into two components on an inclined plane: one parallel and one perpendicular to the surface. The parallel component is responsible for pulling the object down the slope.
A 12 kg object accelerates upward at 3 m/s². What is the net force acting on it?
36 N upward
12 N upward
24 N upward
36 N downward
Using F_net = m * a, we calculate the net force as 12 kg multiplied by 3 m/s², which equals 36 N. The upward direction indicates that the force is acting in the same direction as the acceleration.
What condition must be met for an object to be in equilibrium?
The applied forces must be greater than friction.
The object must be moving at a constant speed.
There must be no gravitational force acting on it.
The net force acting on it must be zero.
Equilibrium is achieved when all forces cancel out so that the net force is zero. This applies whether the object is at rest or moving with a constant velocity.
A 5 kg object is subject to two forces at an angle of 60° relative to each other, with magnitudes 8 N and 12 N. Which value is closest to the magnitude of the net force?
20 N
15.2 N
16 N
17.4 N
Using the law of cosines, the net force is calculated as √(8² + 12² + 2Ã-8Ã-12Ã-cos60°), which approximates to 17.4 N. This method accounts for both the magnitudes of the forces and the angle between them.
When a net force is applied at an angle to an object, which force component contributes to its acceleration?
Both components equally contribute regardless of direction.
The component that is opposite to the gravitational force.
The component perpendicular to the direction of motion.
The component parallel to the direction of motion.
The acceleration of an object is produced only by the component of the net force that acts in the direction of its motion. The perpendicular component may change the direction but not the magnitude of the speed.
A 1500 kg car decelerates due to a braking force of 4500 N. What is its deceleration rate?
4.5 m/s²
6.67 m/s²
0.33 m/s²
3 m/s²
Using Newton's second law (a = F/m), we divide the braking force (4500 N) by the mass (1500 kg) to obtain a deceleration of 3 m/s². This quantifies the rate at which the car slows down.
Two forces of 10 N act on an object, one directed due north and the other due east. What is the magnitude of the net force?
Approximately 14.1 N
10 N
20 N
Approximately 5 N
Since the forces are perpendicular, the net force is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem: √(10² + 10²), which gives approximately 14.1 N. This is a clear example of vector addition in two dimensions.
An object is acted upon by three non-collinear forces. What is the correct method to determine if the object is in equilibrium?
Add the magnitudes of all forces and check if the total is zero.
Identify the largest force and compare it to the sum of the other two.
Examine only the horizontal components of the forces.
Sum the vector components of all forces and ensure each directional sum is zero.
For an object to be in equilibrium, the net force must be zero in every direction. This involves breaking each force into its components and ensuring that the sums along each axis cancel out.
0
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze the vector components contributing to net force.
  2. Apply Newton's laws to determine object acceleration.
  3. Evaluate the effects of multiple forces acting on an object.
  4. Synthesize information from various force scenarios to compute net force.
  5. Interpret problem statements to model real-world physics challenges.

6.01 Quiz: Net Forces Problem Review Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Net Force - Net force is the vector sum of all pushes and pulls acting on an object, and it's the key to predicting motion. When forces balance out, you get zero net force; when one side wins, you get acceleration. Mastering this concept is like unlocking the cheat code to every mechanics problem.
  2. Apply Newton's Second Law - This law (a = Fnet / m) ties force, mass, and acceleration into a neat package: more force or less mass equals more acceleration. It's your go‑to formula for solving dynamic problems, from rockets to rolling carts. Practice rearranging it until it feels as natural as 2+2=4.
  3. Draw Free‑Body Diagrams - Sketching out every force vector on an object helps you visualize the problem like a storyboard. Label normal force, gravity, friction, tension - whatever's in play - and you'll avoid messy sign errors. Think of it as the blueprint for your algebraic solution.
  4. Differentiate Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces - Balanced forces cancel out and keep an object at rest or moving steadily, while unbalanced forces create acceleration. Spotting which is which is like choosing the right game strategy - get it wrong, and you'll lose points! This distinction underpins every motion analysis.
  5. Resolve Forces into Components - Real‑world forces rarely act neatly along one axis. Use sine and cosine to split a force into horizontal and vertical parts, making equations simpler and more manageable. It's like breaking a big pizza into slice‑sized problems.
  6. Consider Frictional Forces - Friction always plays spoiler by opposing motion; calculate it with Ffriction = μ × Fnormal. Different surfaces and conditions change μ, so know when you're skating on ice versus dragging through mud. Accounting for friction separates casual learners from physics champs.
  7. Account for Gravitational Force - The weight of any object is just m × g, where g ≈ 9.8 m/s2 on Earth. This downward pull shows up in nearly every mechanics problem, from free‑fall to inclined planes. Never forget to include it in your net force tally!
  8. Analyze Normal Force - The normal force is the "push back" from a surface, always perpendicular to contact. On flat ground it equals weight; on slopes it changes with angle. Getting this right prevents headaches when summing vertical forces.
  9. Practice with Real‑World Problems - Apply these principles to roller coasters, block‑and‑tackle setups, or angled ramps to see them in action. The more scenarios you tackle, the more intuitive the concepts become - plus it's way more fun than endless textbook drills!
  10. Use Vector Addition for Multiple Forces - When several forces act, stack your component sums or use head‑to‑tail addition to find the resultant. Both magnitude and direction matter, so draw carefully and calculate methodically. It's the grand finale that reveals the true net force.
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