If the net force on an object is zero, the object will:

If the net force on an object is zero, the object will:

• A. remain at rest or move with constant velocity
• B. must accelerate
• C. must stop
• D. will always move in a straight line

Answer: (A)

When the net force on an object is zero, there is no acceleration (F = ma with F = 0 means a = 0). That means the object's velocity doesn’t change. If it starts at rest, it stays at rest. If it’s already moving, it continues with the same speed and direction, so it travels in a straight line. This is why the best description is that it will remain at rest or move with constant velocity. The idea that it must accelerate isn’t correct because zero net force yields zero acceleration. The notion that it must stop isn’t correct either unless it’s initially at rest. And while a moving object with zero net force travels in a straight line, if it’s at rest there’s no motion at all, so the statement about always moving in a straight line isn’t universally true.

When the net force on an object is zero, there is no acceleration (F = ma with F = 0 means a = 0). That means the object's velocity doesn’t change. If it starts at rest, it stays at rest. If it’s already moving, it continues with the same speed and direction, so it travels in a straight line. This is why the best description is that it will remain at rest or move with constant velocity.

The idea that it must accelerate isn’t correct because zero net force yields zero acceleration. The notion that it must stop isn’t correct either unless it’s initially at rest. And while a moving object with zero net force travels in a straight line, if it’s at rest there’s no motion at all, so the statement about always moving in a straight line isn’t universally true.