What is Resultant Force?
In GCSE Physics the resultant, net or overall force acting on a single object is the combined effect of multiple forces acting on a single object. The resultant force determines the direction in which the object will move as a result of all of the forces and the magnitude of the final force experienced by the object.
All the forces acting upon an object can be represented by a free body or a force diagram. Arrows are used to represent each force acting on the object.
The resultant force can be determined using a scale drawing or by calculation involving Pythagoras and trigonometry. When an object experiences a resultant force it will accelerate.
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