The net force experienced by an object is the collective effect of all the individual forces. Since force is a vector, direction must be considered. A leftward force subtracts from the effect of a larger rightward force and a rightward force subtracts from the effect of a larger leftward force. Forces directed in the same direction add together to produce the combined effect of a larger net force.
 

There are three similar versions of this question. Here is one of those versions:
 

Version 1:

Rank the objects according to net force; use 1 for the most negative and 8 for the most positive.

You are presented with eight diagrams showing the individual forces on each object. You need to rank the eight objects in terms of their net force. The Fundamentals section (above) explains how to do determine the net force. Once you have determined the numerical value, assign negatives to those that are directed leftward and positives to the rightward net force values. The most negative net force receives the rank of 1; the second most negative net force receives the rank of 2; and so forth. The most positive net force (meaning a rightward net force or more right force than left force) receives the rank of 8. And the second most positive net force receives the rank of 7; and so forth.
 

A Final Note

Because of the eight objects, there is a lot of work in this question ,,, and a lot remembering. And if you miss it, you will have to answer it correctly twice before earning the trophy for this Wizard Level. So here's something to think about: Sometimes the long cut is the short cut. Typically the short cut  is to do all the work in your head and to never write anything down. But if you miss the question because of a careless error in anyone of the eight diagrams, it's not much of a short cut. In this case, the short cut just might be to get out some scratch paper, make a 2x4 table and write some net force numbers down in each cell of the table before making rankings. It seems like the long cut but if it prevents you from having to answer the same question twice ... it's really the short cut.
 

Try these links to The Physics Classroom Tutorial for more help with net force, Newton's Second Law, and acceleration:

Determinig the Net Force

Newton's Second Law

Finding Acceleration

 


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