What term describes the net force acting on a body when two or more forces are unbalanced?

The term that describes the net force acting on a body when two or more forces are unbalanced is "resultant force." When forces act on an object, if the forces are balanced, they cancel each other out, resulting in no net force and no change in motion. However, when the forces are unbalanced, there is a net force that causes the object to accelerate in the direction of the larger force. This net force is what is referred to as the resultant force, which effectively determines the motion of the object by causing it to either speed up, slow down, or change direction.

In contrast, balanced forces do not lead to any net force and therefore do not result in movement. Frictional force is a specific type of force that opposes motion between surfaces, while applied force refers to any force that is applied to an object, regardless of whether it is balanced or unbalanced. Understanding these distinctions is important in physics to analyze the effects of forces on motion.