* Newton's First Law of Motion: This law states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
* Constant Speed: A car moving at constant speed is not accelerating. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, and velocity includes both speed and direction.
* Balanced Forces: If forces are balanced, their effects cancel each other out. This means there is no net force acting on the object, resulting in no acceleration.
Example:
Consider a car moving at a constant 60 mph. The following forces are likely acting on the car:
* Forward Force: The engine provides a forward force to propel the car.
* Friction: Air resistance and friction from the tires and road create opposing forces.
For the car to maintain constant speed, these forces must be equal and opposite, resulting in a net force of zero.
In conclusion: A car moving at constant speed is not accelerating, which means the forces acting on it must be balanced.
