Balanced and unbalanced forces
I can use the idea of resultant force to explain whether a change of speed occurs or not.
Balanced and unbalanced forces
I can use the idea of resultant force to explain whether a change of speed occurs or not.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Two forces of equal size, acting in opposite directions on an object, are balanced.
- The resultant force is the sum of the forces acting on the object, taking into account their direction.
- When forces are balanced there is no resultant force and no change in speed.
- When there are two forces acting in opposite directions, the resultant force acts in the direction of the bigger force.
- The greater the resultant force on a given object, the greater or faster the change in speed.
Keywords
Balanced forces - Two forces of equal size acting in opposite directions on an object, are balanced. They fully cancel each other out so no change is caused.
Unbalanced forces - Unbalanced forces do not fully cancel out.
Resultant force - The ‘force left over’ is called the resultant force. Resultant forces cause changes in speed.
Common misconception
The direction of the (resultant) force shows the direction of motion.
The direction of the resultant force shows the direction of the change (not the direction of motion). Forces make things change.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
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