Here's why:
* Forward Force: This is the force generated by the car's engine, pushing it forward.
* Resistive Forces: These forces oppose the car's motion and include:
* Air Resistance (Drag): The force of air pushing against the car as it moves.
* Rolling Resistance: Friction between the tires and the road.
* Other Resistance: This can include things like friction in the engine and drivetrain.
Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
* If the forward force were greater than the resistive forces, the car would accelerate (speed up).
* If the resistive forces were greater than the forward force, the car would decelerate (slow down).
Therefore, for a car to maintain a constant speed, the forward force must be equal and opposite to the total resistive forces. This is a state of equilibrium.
