If a car moves consistently at 80 kmh and it weighs at 600kg, is it not generating any force? since you know, a=0, am I stupid or is Newton ?
In: 13
The only correct answers in this thread are the ones that mention that *sum of forces* = m*a. A car moving at a constant speed has a net 0 sum of forces. Just like a person standing still on earth. However for the person, gravity is still pulling them towards the center of the earth, just like the surface of the earth is resisting you getting pulled through it (which are equal and opposite, thus 0 net force). The only time the net force will be greater than zero is if your speed (really velocity, which is the same but with a direction) is changing, and changing velocity over time is the definition of acceleration.
Your car’s engine is very definitely “generating” a force, but if you aren’t accelerating then its because that force is being countered by friction on the road and air resistance adding up to be equal and opposite to that provided by the car.
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