The topic here is adding two forces on one object. The forces are 5.0 N and 8.0 N, and they may point in any direction.
Pick the row giving the smallest and largest resultant force the two forces can make.
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The resultant is smallest when the forces pull against each other:. 8.0 − 5.0 = 3.0 N. It is largest when they act in the same direction and add:. 8.0 + 5.0 = 13.0 N. That is the second option. The first option has the right minimum but forgets that the forces can add, and takes the larger force alone as the maximum. The third option treats the two forces as the extremes themselves. The fourth has the right maximum but forgets that the forces can subtract.
How the marks are earned
- Choose smallest 3.0 N and largest 13.0 N: opposite directions give 8.0 − 5.0 = 3.0 N, and the same direction gives 8.0 + 5.0 = 13.0 N.
- One answer only: two answers earn nothing, and a circled or underlined right option counts if the box is blank.