What is the difference between balance and unbalance force

Have you ever observed that whenever you want to move an object, it is either pushed or pulled? Force takes place in pairs; they can be balanced or unbalanced.

As we look around ourselves, there are many instances where we can find the occurrences of these two forces. This article excerpt makes an attempt to clear the basic differences between balanced and unbalanced forces. Basis for Comparison Balanced Forces Unbalanced Forces Meaning When the forces exerted on the object, are of equal size but in opposite direction, then the forces are known as balanced forces. When the forces applied on the object are unequal in size, then the forces are known as unbalanced forces.

Stationery object Stays at rest. Moves in the direction of greater force. Moving object Continues to move in the same speed. The book is said to be at equilibrium. There is no unbalanced force acting upon the book and thus the book maintains its state of motion. When all the forces acting upon an object balance each other, the object will be at equilibrium; it will not accelerate.

Note: diagrams such as the one above are known as free-body diagrams and will be discussed in detail in Lesson 2. Consider another example involving balanced forces - a person standing on the floor. There are two forces acting upon the person. The force of gravity exerts a downward force. The floor exerts an upward force. The person is at equilibrium.

There is no unbalanced force acting upon the person and thus the person maintains its state of motion. Now consider a book sliding from left to right across a tabletop. Sometime in the prior history of the book , it may have been given a shove and set in motion from a rest position. Or perhaps it acquired its motion by sliding down an incline from an elevated position. Whatever the case, our focus is not upon the history of the book but rather upon the current situation of a book sliding to the right across a tabletop.

The book is in motion and at the moment there is no one pushing it to the right. Remember: a force is not needed to keep a moving object moving to the right. The forces acting upon the book are shown below. The force of gravity pulling downward and the force of the table pushing upwards on the book are of equal magnitude and opposite directions. These two forces balance each other. Yet there is no force present to balance the force of friction.

Suppose both dogs are pulling at the cloth with a force of 50 N in opposite directions, the two forces would cancel each other and the resultant or the net force would be 0.

Here, the forces are balanced and the cloth would not move. Think of a mug resting on the table. The fact that the mug does not move does not necessarily mean that there are no forces acting on the mug. There is always gravity acting on the mug, trying to pull it down here we assume we are talking about a mug on Earth!

In other words, the forces are balanced and this is why the mug does not move. If the body continues to stay at rest, then we know that the forces on it are balanced. The two forces are completely equal and opposite. What is an example of a balanced force that keeps an object moving a constant velocity? The cruise control on a car attempts to equal the forces of friction with a forward force.

Once constant velocity is obtained the two sets of forces are completely equal and opposite. Unbalanced Forces :. Forces that are not opposite in direction and equal in size.