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F[net]=ma ([net] force = mass X acceleration). It is possible. While mass can't be negative, acceleration depends on which direction you're measuring to be positive. If you're acceleration is negative, so is your net force. For example, if you're traveling 60 mph southward, and apply the breaks at -4.7 m/s/s, to find the net force (This works because your car technically would have been in equilibrium had it stayed at 60 mph in the same direction), you would simply multiply your rate of acceleration by the mass of your vehicle, say 1000 kg, which would give you a net force (all forces cosidered) of -4700N southward. At the same time, this could be taken as positive 4700N northward; hence it's directionally dependent. But, long story short, yes; it is possible to have a negative net force, because force is a vector (Includes direction and quantity).

Hope this helps!

- Fellow physics student

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12y ago
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16y ago

It can negative. if u get -2 N it means that the force is going to the opposite direction.

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12y ago

No, but its direction can.

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Q: Can the net force be negative?
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Related questions

What is the net force when you combine a force of 13N to the north and 17N to the south?

Take north to be the positive direction, and south to be the negative direction. Net force = 13N + (-17N) = -4N Net force = 4N to the south.


If the net force on an object is in negative direction what will the direction is the resulting acceleration be?

It would be in the negative direction as well. Newton's Second law states that the acceleration of an object directly depends on the net force given to that object.


What is the net force on an object when you combine a force of 10n with a force of 5 n south?

If the 10N force is positive, meaning to the north, then the 5N south would be negative, and the net force is 10N + (-5N) = 5N to the north.


Is 5 net force greater than -7 net force?

No , it is less than -7N force , Negative sign with a 7 N force tells us that it is acting in a direction opposite to that of motion of the body or ,.......


What will the direction of the resulting acceleration be If the net force on an object is in a negative direction?

It would be in the negative direction as well. Newton's Second law states that the acceleration of an object directly depends on the net force given to that object.


What Combination of all of the force acting on an object?

This would be known as the net-force.


How is net force on an object determined?

Add the different forces together to find the net force. For example, if you have a force of -5N acting on an object and another force of 8N acting on that object, the net force is 3 N.


What is the net force when you combine a force of 39 n north to a force of 11n south?

We are assuming that the forces are opposite of each other, meaning that they will cancel out. Net force is simply 39-22 (or 17 newtons).


How do you combine unequal forces acting in opposite directions?

By adding a positive force to a negative force and determining which side has a greater strength will determine the net force.


How do you find the net force when force are acting in opposite direction?

You must first choose which direction you shall call positive, thereby the opposite direction shall be negative. Then you add these two values together to get your answer, the total net force.


How are net forces and balanced forces not always alike?

Balanced forces means the net force is zero, but net force can also be positive or negative numbers. If I pull a block with a force of 10N to the right, and you pull it with a force of 10N to the left, the net force on the block is zero, thus balanced forces. If I start to pull with a force of 20N to the right, but you still pull 10N to the left, the net force on the block is 10N to the right, thus causing acceleration of the block to the right, thus unbalanced forces


What is a net force and how do you find it?

The net force is the sum of all the positive and negative forces. Force F' is a four dimensional number F'=[fr , F] = fr + Ifx + Jfy + Kfz =|F|(cos(f) , Fsin(f)], this is a quaternion or for short a quat!. A' + B' forces = [a, A] + [b, B] = [a + b, A + B] is the net force of A and B. A' - B' = [a, A] + [-b, -B] = [a-b, A - B] is the net force of A' - B'.