Physics

Forgetting That Force Is a Vector

Students add forces by size only and ignore the direction each force points.

Quick check

Why students make it

A larger number feels like it should mean a larger total force. This misses that forces in opposite directions can cancel and forces at angles must be split into components.

The rule done right

Force is a vector, so both magnitude and direction matter. Add forces using signs or components, such as ΣFx\Sigma F_x and ΣFy\Sigma F_y, then find the net force.

Related resources

forcesvectorsnewtons-laws