What type of force results when two equal forces act on an object in opposite directions?

When two equal forces act on an object in opposite directions, they create a situation where the forces cancel each other out. This means that the net force, which is the overall force acting on the object, is zero. In this scenario, the object remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity if it was already in motion, demonstrating that the forces are balanced.

Balanced forces are crucial in understanding how objects behave. For example, if a book is resting on a table, the force of gravity pulling it down is balanced by the normal force exerted by the table pushing it up. Because these forces are equal and opposite, the book does not accelerate; it remains stationary.

In contrast, when forces are not equal, they produce an unbalanced force that can cause an object to accelerate in the direction of the stronger force. The terms 'net force' and 'resultant force' refer to the overall effect of all the forces acting on an object, which also implies whether they are balanced or unbalanced.

Thus, balanced forces are defined by their equality and opposite directions, leading to a state of equilibrium.