What To Do Written Work Directions: Identify the balanced and unbalanced forces in each situations. Write BF for balanced forces and UBF for unbalanced forces in the space provided. UBF 1. A hanging pen 2. A man sitting still 3. A coat in the closet 4. A bat hitting the ball 5. A boy kicking the ball 6. A flower vase on the table 7. A boat sinking in the ocean 8. A fruit dropping from a tree 9. A group of students playing tug of war 10. A framed pictures hanging on a wall
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
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Answers:
- BF – A hanging pen
- BF – A man sitting still
- BF – A coat in the closet
- UBF – A bat hitting the ball
- UBF – A boy kicking the ball
- BF – A flower vase on the table
- UBF – A boat sinking in the ocean
- UBF – A fruit dropping from a tree
- UBF – A group of students playing tug of war
- BF – A framed picture hanging on a wall
Explanation
In physics, balanced forces (BF) occur when all the forces acting on an object cancel each other out, resulting in no change in motion. In contrast, unbalanced forces (UBF) cause a change in an object’s state of motion, either speeding it up, slowing it down, or changing its direction.
For example, a hanging pen (1), a man sitting still (2), a coat in the closet (3), a flower vase on the table (6), and a framed picture on the wall (10) are all examples of balanced forces. In these cases, gravity pulls the objects downward, but they are supported by a surface or hanging mechanism that provides an equal and opposite force. As a result, these objects stay at rest and do not move.
On the other hand, situations like a bat hitting a ball (4) or a boy kicking a ball (5) involve unbalanced forces. These actions apply external force to an object at rest, causing it to move, which indicates an imbalance. Similarly, a boat sinking (7) and a fruit dropping from a tree (8) are also unbalanced situations where gravitational force is no longer countered by buoyancy or structural support, causing motion.
A tug of war (9) typically involves unbalanced forces if one team pulls harder than the other, causing the rope to move in one direction. If both sides pull with equal force and the rope stays in place, then forces would be balanced—but since it involves active effort and motion is often the result, it’s marked as unbalanced here.
Understanding balanced and unbalanced forces is essential in analyzing motion and stability in physical systems.
