Need help finding the maximum net force?

Question

Here is the question:


If you had twoforces,one with a magnitude of 25N and the other with a magnitude of a 100N,what would be the maxiumum net force these forces could exert on an object?

Could you help explain to me how to figure this out?

Answer 1

The maximum possible net force is 125N, if the two forces are pushing in the exact same direction.

Force is a vector quantity, which means that any measurement of force includes both a magnitude (size, the number) and a direction (the way that the force is pushing). The simplest way to indicate direction is with a positive or negative sign, which only gives us two options: left/right, forward/backward, up/down, etc.

In your question, no direction is specified for either of the forces, but we can figure out the minimum and maximum possible net force rather easily. The minimum net force would result when the two forces are pushing directly against one another: 100 -25 = 75N (toward the direction that the 100N was pushing). Similarly, the maximum net force would result when the two forces are pushing together in the same direction: 100 +25 = 125N.

In general, then, the maximum possible net force (in cases where you are not given directions with the forces) can be found by adding the magnitudes of the forces together, as if they were all pushing in the same direction.

Answer 2

Force = mass x acceleration

The maximum net force would occur if both forces were applied to the object in the same direction. In that case the forces would be additive. Thus 25 + 100 = 125 N is the maximum net force.

Compare this example to what the net force would be if the two forces were applied to the object in opposite directions. Then the net force would be 100 - 25 = 75 N.

Answer 3

75N in the same direction as the 100N force was going.

say 25N is a force going right and 100N is a force going left. in equation form, that is +25-100, where positive indicates right and negative indicates left. the sum would be -75, or 75N to the left, which is the same direction as the 100N force.

Answer 4

You have two forces pointing the same direction; so what's the big deal about it? just add them together and you have 125! period.

Answer 5

if they just act to (or from) one point and at an opposite direction then it is just 100-25=75N