Question

How does a net force affect an object?

Answer 1

We know that when imbalances of forces act a net force is generated on the body. This net force causes a displacement in the body in the direction of the net force acting. We know that, when a body is displaced due to application of a net force, work is done by it.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that force is defined as the push or pull that acts on a body when it interacts with other bodies. Now, due to the action of force, the body accelerates in the direction of the applied body and thus its velocity is changed.
Thus, force is an external push or pull that is capable of changing the state, shape or size of the object.

Now, there can be more than one force acting on a body and force being a vector quantity both magnitude and direction are taken into consideration.
Thus, when two forces of the same magnitude but in opposite directions are applied in opposite directions, the two forces cancel each other and thus the net force acting on the body is zero.

Now, when two unequal forces are applied in opposite directions, the difference of two forces is said to be the effective force and the direction in which the greater force is applied is considered as the direction of the body and it displaces in that direction.
Thus, we can say the net force is responsible for changing the state of the object and thus, work is done by the body.

Note: The point at which the force is applied is known as the point of application of force and the direction in which the force is applied is known as the direction of the force. There are mainly two effects of force, one being it causes a displacement and the other being, it causes a change in the velocity of the object.