According to Newton's First Law, what potential impact can be unbalanced force have an object in motion?
a an unbalanced force can only change the object's direction
b an unbalanced force can only change the objects speed
c an unbalanced force will have no impact on an object in motion
d an unbalanced force can change both the objects direction and speed
The correct answer is d) an unbalanced force can change both the object's direction and speed.
D. An unbalanced force can change both the object's direction and speed.
According to Newton's First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, an object in motion will continue in its state of motion unless acted upon by an external force. This means that if the net force acting on an object is zero, the object will either remain at rest or keep moving with a constant velocity in a straight line.
So, in order to understand the potential impact of an unbalanced force on an object in motion, we need to consider the different options:
a) An unbalanced force can only change the object's direction: This statement is not entirely accurate. An unbalanced force can indeed change the object's direction, but it can also change its speed. If a force acts on an object perpendicular to its motion, it will cause the object to change its direction without changing its speed.
b) An unbalanced force can only change the object's speed: This statement is also not entirely accurate. An unbalanced force can indeed change the object's speed, but it can also change its direction. If a force acts on an object in the same direction as its motion, it will cause the object to accelerate, thereby changing its speed.
c) An unbalanced force will have no impact on an object in motion: This statement is not correct. An unbalanced force will always have an impact on an object in motion. It can change the object's direction, speed, or both.
d) An unbalanced force can change both the object's direction and speed: This statement is the most accurate. An unbalanced force can indeed change both the direction and speed of an object in motion. It can accelerate or decelerate the object, causing a change in its speed, while also altering its direction of motion.
Therefore, the correct option is d) An unbalanced force can change both the object's direction and speed.