1. Understand the concept:
Net force is the sum of all the individual forces acting on an object.
It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (strength) and direction.
If the net force is zero, the object will be at rest or move with constant velocity (no change in speed or direction).
A non-zero net force will cause the object to accelerate in the direction of the net force.
2. Identify the individual forces:
Carefully analyze the situation and identify all the forces acting on the object.
This might include forces like gravity, friction, applied forces, etc.
Represent each force with an arrow on a free-body diagram, indicating its direction and (ideally) magnitude.
3. Apply the net force formula:
The net force (F_net) is calculated by summing all the individual forces (F_i):
F_net = F_1 + F_2 + F_3 + ... + F_n
Pay attention to the signs. Forces acting in the same direction have the same sign (usually positive), while forces in opposite directions have opposite signs (usually negative).
4. Determine the direction of the net force:
The direction of the net force is the direction of the vector sum of all the individual forces.
You can use graphical methods or trigonometry to determine the direction if dealing with forces in different directions.