Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
- Reaction forces only exist for living things: The idea that a table doesn’t
“push back” on a book because the table isn’t alive or moving. - The “Active” force is greater: In a tug-of-war or collision, the belief that the
winner or the “moving” object exerted a greater force than the other (failing to
recognize Newton’s 3rd Law). - Friction only acts on moving objects: Not realizing that static friction exists to
prevent an object from starting to move. - Equilibrium means no forces: The belief that “balanced” forces are the same as
“zero” forces acting on an object. - Centrifugal force is a “real” outward pull: The belief that an object in circular
motion is being pushed outward by a force, rather than wanting to travel in a
straight line (inertia).