Two bumper cars ram into a third bumper car from opposite sides. The first hits the third with a force of 51N to the right. The second hits the third with a force of 43 N to the left. What is the net force on the third bumper car assuming that it was not accelerating during the collision? (The right direction is negative and the left is positive)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the net force of an object that has two opposing forces, use the following equation: Net Force = Fleft + (-) Fright.
NetForce = Fleft + (-) Fright
NetForce = 43 N + (-) 51 N
NetForce = -8 N

Two Bumper Cars Ram into a Third Bumper Car from Opposite