Which term describes the state when net force is not zero, causing acceleration?

Which term describes the state when net force is not zero, causing acceleration?

• A. Balanced Forces
• B. Net Force
• C. Unbalanced Forces
• D. Gravity

Answer: (C)

When the net force on an object is not zero, the object will accelerate. Net force means adding up all the forces acting on the object as vectors; if they don’t cancel, there’s a leftover force that changes the object's velocity. This situation is called unbalanced forces. For example, pushing a stalled cart with more force than friction causes it to speed up in the push direction. If the forces balance, the net force is zero and there is no acceleration. Gravity is a force that can contribute to the net force, but it’s the imbalance of forces that determines acceleration, not gravity by itself.

When the net force on an object is not zero, the object will accelerate. Net force means adding up all the forces acting on the object as vectors; if they don’t cancel, there’s a leftover force that changes the object's velocity. This situation is called unbalanced forces. For example, pushing a stalled cart with more force than friction causes it to speed up in the push direction. If the forces balance, the net force is zero and there is no acceleration. Gravity is a force that can contribute to the net force, but it’s the imbalance of forces that determines acceleration, not gravity by itself.