Question #a536b
1 Answer
Oct 18, 2015
Assign a positive or negative sign to the force depending on its direction, then add the two forces to get the net force.
Explanation:
Acceleration is a vector quantity, meaning that it also has direction in it. You can represent the direction with either a positive or negative sign.
Example: A box is being acted upon by two forces. 2 Newtons towards the right and 3 Newtons towards the left.
Diagram:
The force directed to the right is positive while the force directed to the left is negative. To get the net force, you simply have to add them.
The net force is