Question 370 of 949
A 10 kg object is at rest on a flat surface, experiencing a force of 30 N to the right and a frictional force of 10 N to the left. What is the net force acting on the object?
- 10 N to the right
- 20 N to the right
- 30 N to the left
- 0 N
Correct Answer:
B
Explanation
To determine the net force acting on the object, we need to analyze the forces acting on it and apply Newton's second law of motion. Let's break this down step-by-step.
### Step 1: Identify the Forces
1. **Applied Force**: The object is experiencing a force of 30 N to the right. This is the force trying to move the object in that direction.
2. **Frictional Force**: There is a frictional force of 10 N acting to the left. This force opposes the motion of the object.
### Step 2: Determine the Direction of Forces
- The applied force (30 N) is directed to the right.
- The frictional force (10 N) is directed to the left.
### Step 3: Calculate the Net Force
The net force can be calculated by subtracting the frictional force from the applied force, since they are acting in opposite directions.
\[
\text{Net Force} = \text{Applied Force} - \text{Frictional Force}
\]
Substituting the values:
\[
\text{Net Force} = 30 \, \text{N (right)} - 10 \, \text{N (left)}
\]
To perform the calculation, we can consider the right direction as positive and the left direction as negative:
\[
\text{Net Force} = 30 \, \text{N} - 10 \, \text{N} = 20 \, \text{N}
\]
Since the result is positive, the net force is directed to the right.
### Conclusion
The net force acting on the object is **20 N to the right**. Therefore, the correct option is **B**.
### Explanation of Other Options
- **Option A (10 N to the right)**: This option is incorrect because it does not account for the full effect of the frictional force. The net force is not just the difference between the applied force and the frictional force; it is the total effect, which we calculated to be 20 N to the right.
- **Option C (30 N to the left)**: This option is incorrect because it suggests that the net force is in the opposite direction of the applied force. The applied force is greater than the frictional force, so the object will not move to the left.
- **Option D (0 N)**: This option is incorrect because it implies that the forces are balanced. In this case, the applied force exceeds the frictional force, resulting in a net force that is not zero.
### Common Pitfalls
- **Forgetting to consider direction**: Always remember that forces have both magnitude and direction. When calculating net force, ensure you account for the direction of each force.
- **Confusing net force with total forces**: The net force is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object, not just a simple addition of magnitudes.
### Revision Summary
- The net force is calculated by subtracting opposing forces.
- In this case, the applied force (30 N) is greater than the frictional force (10 N).
- The net force is 20 N to the right, making option B the correct answer.
- Always consider the direction of forces when calculating net force.