When equal forces are acting on an object in opposite directions, it's called balanced forces.

Here's why:

* Balanced forces result in no change in the object's motion. The forces cancel each other out, leading to:

* No acceleration: The object either remains at rest or continues moving at a constant speed in a straight line.

* No change in velocity: Velocity includes both speed and direction.

Example: Imagine pushing a heavy box with a force of 10 Newtons to the right. If someone else pushes the box with a force of 10 Newtons to the left, the box won't move. The forces are balanced, resulting in no net force.