What is how to find net force?

To find the net force acting on an object, you need to consider all the individual forces acting on the object and then combine them using vector addition. Here's a breakdown of the process:

  1. Identify all forces: Begin by identifying every force acting on the object. This includes forces like <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Gravity">gravity</a>, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Tension">tension</a>, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Normal%20Force">normal force</a>, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Friction">friction</a>, applied forces, and air resistance. Draw a free body diagram to visualize these forces.

  2. Resolve forces into components: If the forces are acting at angles, resolve them into their horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components. Use trigonometry (sine, cosine) to find these components. For example, if a force F acts at an angle θ to the horizontal, its x-component is Fcos(θ) and its y-component is Fsin(θ).

  3. Sum the forces in each direction: Add up all the x-components of the forces to find the net force in the x-direction (ΣFx). Similarly, add up all the y-components of the forces to find the net force in the y-direction (ΣFy). Remember to consider the direction of the forces (positive or negative) when adding them.

  4. Calculate the magnitude of the net force: Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the net force (Fnet) using the x and y components of the net force:

    Fnet = √(ΣFx² + ΣFy²)

  5. Determine the direction of the net force: Use the arctangent function (tan⁻¹) to find the angle (θ) of the net force relative to the x-axis:

    θ = tan⁻¹(ΣFy / ΣFx)

    Pay attention to the quadrant in which the angle lies to get the correct direction.

The <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Net%20Force">net force</a> is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object and it dictates the acceleration the object will experience according to <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Newton's%20Second%20Law">Newton's Second Law</a> (Fnet = ma).