A resultant force is the overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces are combined. It tells us the net effect of all the forces.
Why Is It Important?
If forces acting on an object are balanced (equal and opposite), the resultant force is zero, and the object stays still or moves at a constant speed.If the forces are unbalanced, the object will accelerate, decelerate, or change direction.
How to Find Resultant Force:
If the forces are in the same direction, add them.
If the forces are in opposite directions, subtract the smaller force from the larger one.
Example:If 10 N pushes right and 4 N pushes left,Resultant Force = 10 N – 4 N = 6 N to the right
Effect of a Resultant Force:
Starts or stops motion
Changes speed
Changes direction
Changes shape (in some cases)
