Question

boys A and B,are pulling a heavy cabinet at the same time with 5 N of force each. What is the net force acting on the cabinet?
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Answer 1

Answer:

+10n, or 10n to the right

Explanation:

Since the boys are pulling the cabinet in the same direction we must add, after adding write the direction of the force which is right.

F net = Fa + Fb

= 5n + 5n

= +10n or 10n to the right

Answer 2

The net force acting on the cabinet can be 10 Newton or 0 Newton.

Explanation:

Force is defines as the push or pull experienced by an object or a body.

According to Newton's laws of motion:

• Any external push or pull can change the state of the body.
• Force is defined as rate of change in momentum of the body.
• Every force of action will have equal and opposite reaction.

• Here, two forces are acting on the body and the net or resultant force will be the addition of these two forces.
• Now, force is a vector quantity which means it has magnitude as well as direction.
• When adding the forces in this case, both the forces acting on the cabinet needs to be summed up considering the direction of force.

Two cases of the situation:

A and B are in the same side of the cabinet.

1. In this case, both the forces acting will be in same direction and so both will be considered positive.
2. So, A pulls the object with a force of +5 Newton and B pulls the object with +5 Newton.
3. The total force will be $(+5)+(+5) N = 10 N$ in the direction of A and B.
4. The force will be unbalanced and so there may be motion in the object.

A and B are in opposite side of the cabinet.

1. In this case, the forces acting will be in opposite direction and so one force will be positive and the other will have a negative sign.
2. So, A pulls the object with force of +5 Newton and B pulls the cabinet with a force of -5 Newton.
3. The total force acting on the cabinet will be $(+5)+(-5)N = 0N$. So, there will be no resultant force acting on the cabinet.
4. So the forces will balance out and there will be no motion in the object.