Eli5- in physics terms why is this guy doing 0 net force

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So since I can’t put the picture I’m gonna try to describe the situation:

A bunch of guys are pushing a pickup truck in one direction. There’s also a guy *on top* of the pickup truck (in the back) pushing against the front in the same direction. Obviously he’s not applying any force, but why?

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6 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

his hands are pushing the truck forwards, and at the same time, his feet are pushing it backwards.

When the truck is stationary (or moving at constant velocity) these two forces (backwards and forwards) are the same magnitude, and cancel out.

If the truck is accelerating (because the other guys are pushing), then his feet actually apply *more* backwards force than his hands apply forwards force – as a result:

* he accelerates along with the truck (the truck applies to him a net force equal and opposite to the one he is applying to the truck)
* the truck accelerates slower than if he got off and let his friends push just the truck.

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