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An object at rest has what type of force acting on it?

  1. A net force acting on it

  2. Zero net force acting on it

  3. A variable net force acting on it

  4. An unbalanced net force acting on it

The correct answer is: Zero net force acting on it

An object at rest experiences a condition described by zero net force acting on it. This situation aligns with Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by a net external force. If the object is not moving, it is because the sum of all the forces acting on it balances out to zero; meaning that all the forces are equal and opposite, resulting in no change in motion. For instance, if there are multiple forces acting on the object, such as gravitational force downward and a normal force upward, they might cancel each other out, leading to no net force. This equilibrium is essential for understanding the behavior of objects in physics, particularly when analyzing static conditions. Overall, recognizing that an object at rest has zero net force is fundamental to grasping the principles of force and motion.