Newton’s First Law
Balanced forces
Newton’s First Law states that a body will continue in its state of rest or Constant speed in a straight line, or constant velocity., in a straight line unless a net or The single force that could replace all the forces acting on an object, found by adding these together. If all the forces are balanced, the resultant force is zero. acts upon it.
This simply means that balanced forces will have no effect on the motion of an object.
- It could be still.
- It could be moving at constant velocity (a steady speed in a straight line).
- It could be hovering or floating.
Newton's First Law
The forces acting on this car are balanced. The thrust is equal and opposite to the drag. There is no net (or resultant) force as the forces add up to zero. The car will be travelling at constant speed in a straight line.
These forces balance. The car is still.
These forces balance. The boat floats.