Understanding the Forces
* Gravity: The Earth exerts a downward force on the ball due to gravity. This force is calculated as:
* Force of gravity (Fg) = mass (m) * acceleration due to gravity (g)
* Fg = 1 kg * 9.8 m/s² = 9.8 N (approximately)
* Air Resistance: This is an upward force opposing the ball's motion. In this case, it's given as 2 N.
Calculating Net Force
The net force is the sum of all forces acting on the object. Since the forces act in opposite directions, we'll subtract the air resistance from the force of gravity:
* Net force (Fnet) = Force of gravity (Fg) - Air resistance (Fair)
* Fnet = 9.8 N - 2 N = 7.8 N
Answer: The net force acting on the falling ball is 7.8 N downwards.
