Resultant Forces — GCSE Physics Revision
Revise Resultant Forces for GCSE Physics. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Newton's Laws (GCSE)What is Resultant Forces?
The resultant force is the single force that has the same effect as all the other forces acting on an object combined. If the forces are balanced, the resultant force is zero and the object's motion does not change. If the forces are unbalanced, there is a resultant force, and the object will accelerate in the direction of that force.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). Free-body force diagrams are a key skill to master.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
A box is pushed with a force of 30N to the right, and a frictional force of 10N acts to the left. What is the resultant force? Solution: The forces are in opposite directions, so we subtract them. Resultant Force = 30N - 10N = 20N to the right.
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Common mistakes
- 1Forgetting to consider the direction of the forces. Forces are vectors, so their directions are crucial. Forces in opposite directions are subtracted.
- 2Thinking that a zero resultant force means the object is stationary. It could be moving at a constant velocity (Newton's First Law).
- 3Incorrectly drawing force diagrams. The arrows should be labelled with the force name and magnitude, and their lengths should be roughly proportional to the force size.
Resultant Forces exam questions
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Resultant Forces
Core concept
The resultant force is the single force that has the same effect as all the other forces acting on an object combined. If the forces are balanced, the resultant force is zero and the object's motion d…
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the resultant force on an object is zero?
If the resultant force is zero, the object will either remain at rest or continue to move at a constant velocity. Its acceleration is zero.
How do you find the resultant of two perpendicular forces?
You can find the resultant of two perpendicular forces by drawing a vector diagram and using Pythagoras' theorem and trigonometry to find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.