Question

What is a net force?

Answer 1

The sum of all of the forces acting on an object.

Explanation:

Forces are vectors, that means that they have a magnitude and a direction. So, you have to use vector addition when you are adding forces together.

Sometimes it is easier to add the x-component and y-components of the forces.

`F_x = sum F_{x_1} + F_{x_2} + F_{x_3} ...`
`F_y = sum F_{y_1} + F_{y_2} + F_{y_3} ...`