Balanced Force - Definition, Examples, Characteristics, FAQs
Balanced forces help us understand why some objects remain at rest while others move without changing their speed or direction. According to Newton’s first law, an object will stay at rest or continue moving uniformly unless an unbalanced force acts on it. To understand balanced forces, imagine a book resting on a table. Two forces act on it: gravity pulls it downward, and the table pushes it upward with an equal force. These opposite forces cancel each other, so the book does not move or accelerate. This situation is called a balanced force condition. In this article, we will learn what balanced forces are, how they act on objects, and how they help maintain equilibrium in everyday situations.
This Story also Contains
- What are Balanced Force?
- Unbalanced Forces
- Similarities between Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
- Solved Examples of Balanced Force
What are Balanced Force?
In physics, you could hear the words balanced and unbalanced forces a lot. Did you ever ask what these forces are? We first need to grasp what strength is to understand balanced and unbalanced forces. The pull or push on an item may be defined by force. In virtually every element of our daily existence, we utilise strength or power. In practically every phenomenon in the cosmos, it is the driving component. Everything is evidence of strength, from the gravitational pull of the sun, which connects the solar system to a child's elevation of a pencil.
Balanced Force Definition
Balanced forces are two or more forces acting on an object that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. When forces are balanced, they cancel each other out, so there is no change in the object’s motion. This means the object either remains at rest or continues to move with constant velocity.
Balanced Force Formula
Assume that two forces acting on an object in opposition to one another have magnitudes $F_1$ and $F_2$. The net force applied on the item is thus zero because balanced force is defined as such.
Balance force $=F_1-F_2=0$
Consider a book on a table that has a mass of and a weight of mg, wherein g is the acceleration caused by gravity. According to Newton's law of motion , the table will generate an opposing force, called the normal force $F_N$. The two forces will balance each other out. The item won't move since the force's line of action and its action are parallel.
Therefore, the equation of balance force is
balanced force $=F_N-m g$
Balanced Forces Examples
A tug-of-war game with teams matched on both sides is an example of balanced strength. The team does not shift as the same force is exerted from each side.
In the book, the strength of gravity and the usual strength of the table, two vertical forces act. The gravity force is balanced with the natural strength of the table. The strength of gravity is not matched by the upwards force of the table when the table is removed and, consequently, the book is accelerated down.
Characteristics of Balanced Force
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The condition of rest or movement of an item does not change with balanced forces.
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Balanced forces do not permit a moving item to shift direction or speed.
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The net forces acting are zero with balanced forces.
Also, read
Unbalanced Forces
Unbalanced forces refer to forces that result in a net force acting on an object, causing a change in its state of motion. When unbalanced forces act on an object, they cause the object to accelerate, decelerate, or change direction.
Unbalanced Forces Examples
Some common examples include:
- Rowing a Boat: When rowing a boat, the oars exert a force on the water that propels the boat forward. This force is greater than any opposing forces, like water resistance, leading to the boat's acceleration.
- Bouncing a Basketball: Bouncing a basketball on the ground involves applying a force greater than the force of gravity pulling it down. This unbalanced force causes the ball to bounce back up.
- Sliding on Ice: If you slide an object on ice, a small push can set it in motion due to the minimal friction. The applied force is greater than the tiny amount of friction, leading to the object's movement.
Difference between Balanced and Unbalanced Force
Let's look at the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces.
|
Aspect |
Balanced Force |
Unbalanced Force |
|
Definition |
Forces that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, cancel each other out. |
Forces that are not equal in magnitude, cause a change in motion. |
|
Net Force |
Zero (no net force acting on the object). |
Non-zero (resultant force causes acceleration). |
|
Effect on Motion |
No change in the object's motion; it remains at rest or moves with a constant velocity |
Causes the object to accelerate, decelerate, or change direction. |
|
Examples |
A book resting on a table, a tug-of-war with equal pull from both sides. |
Pushing a stalled car, kicking a ball to make it move. |
|
Equilibrium |
Objects remain in equilibrium (static or dynamic). |
Objects are not in equilibrium and exhibit acceleration. |
Similarities between Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Balanced and unbalanced forces both involve the interaction of forces on an object, affecting its motion. However, they differ in their outcomes. Balanced forces result in no net motion, as equal forces cancel each other out. Unbalanced forces lead to a change in motion, accelerating or decelerating the object. Both concepts stem from Newton's laws of motion and highlight the dynamic interplay between forces and an object's behavior.
Related Topics
Solved Examples of Balanced Force
Q.1 A book rests on a table. The Earth pulls the book downward with a force of 20 N . What is the normal force acting on the book?
Solution:
The book is at rest, so forces must be balanced.
Upward normal force = Downward gravitational force = $\mathbf{2 0} \mathbf{~ N}$.
Q.2 A block is pushed on a smooth floor with 10 N to the right and 10 N to the left. What is the net force on the block?
Solution:
Two equal and opposite forces cancel each other.
Net force $=10 \mathrm{~N}-10 \mathrm{~N}=\mathbf{0 ~ N}$.
The block remains at rest or keeps moving uniformly.
Q.3 A hanging lamp is held by a rope. If the lamp weighs 50 N , what is the tension in the rope?
Solution:
The lamp is not moving, so forces are balanced.
Upward tension = downward weight = 50 N.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The equilibrium force magnitude is equal. The direction in the balanced force is the opposite. The object remains in balance strength. The object's speed keeps moving at the same speed. And the acting net force will be null.
Forces should be equalised if equal forces operate in opposite directions. Equalized forces are comparable to no force whatsoever. The object either accelerates or decelerates if the force of an object is imbalanced. Air resistance and friction are anti-motion forces.
A force that does not alter an object's resting condition or motion is a balanced strength. Thus, a balanced force does not make a body to rest or make a body to rest. It does not even affect the direction of a body in movement or increase its speed.
In hanging, floating and standing/sitting objects, the balanced force can be illustrated.
The up and down movement in a seesaw.
The taking-off of a Rocket.
Skiing along the mountain slopes.
Hitting a baseball
Unbalanced force definition: A force where two forces acting in opposing directions on a body, are not equal in magnitude and in size, is known as an unbalanced force.