A body of mass 10 kg is moving with a uniform velocity of 5 m/s. What is the net force acting on it?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT-I Official Paper (Held On: 05 Jun, 2025 Shift 3)

Answer 1

The correct answer is 0 N.

Key Points

When a body is moving with uniform velocity, there is no acceleration acting on the body.
According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the net force on an object is directly proportional to its acceleration (F = ma).
If the acceleration is zero (as in uniform velocity), the net force acting on the object is 0 N.
This is consistent with the concept of equilibrium, where forces acting on the body are balanced, resulting in constant velocity.
Uniform velocity implies the absence of unbalanced external forces, hence the net force remains zero.

Additional Information

Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia):
- A body at rest or in uniform motion will remain in that state unless acted upon by an external force.
- This explains why the net force is zero when velocity is uniform.
Newton's Second Law of Motion:
- The law states that the force (F) on an object is equal to the mass (m) of the object multiplied by its acceleration (a), expressed as F = ma.
- Zero acceleration leads to zero net force.
Uniform Velocity:
- It refers to motion at a constant speed in a straight line.
- Neither the magnitude nor the direction of velocity changes.
Equilibrium in Physics:
- When all forces acting on a body are balanced, the body is in a state of equilibrium.
- In such cases, the net force is zero, and the body either remains at rest or moves with uniform velocity.