Here's why:
* Force is a vector: This means it has both magnitude (how strong it is) and direction.
* Opposite directions: When forces are in opposite directions, they are considered to have opposite signs.
* Adding vectors: To add vectors, you need to consider both their magnitude and direction. When you add forces in opposite directions, their magnitudes subtract from each other.
Example:
Imagine you push a box to the right with a force of 10 Newtons (N), and someone else pushes the box to the left with a force of 10 N. The forces are equal and opposite:
* Force 1: 10 N (right)
* Force 2: -10 N (left)
Net force = Force 1 + Force 2 = 10 N + (-10 N) = 0 N
Conclusion: The box will not move because the net force acting on it is zero.
