Suppose a particle is being accelerated through space by a 10-N force. Suddenly the particle encounters a second force of 10 N in the opposite direction. The particle with both forces acting
A)is brought to a rapid halt.
B)decelerates gradually to a halt.
C)continues at the speed it had when it encountered the second force.
D)theoretically tends to accelerate toward the speed of light.
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When two forces of equal magnitude act on an object in opposite directions, they cancel each other out, resulting in no net force on the object. Thus, according to Newton's first law of motion, the particle will continue moving at the same speed it had when it encountered the second force, as there is no unbalanced force to change its state of motion.

Suppose a Particle Is Being Accelerated Through Space by a 10-N