Opposite forces with different magnitudes on an object produce what kind of net effect?

• A. Net force
• B. Balanced forces
• C. Unbalanced forces
• D. Terminal velocity

Answer: (C)

When two forces act in opposite directions but have different strengths, they don’t cancel each other out. The stronger force minus the weaker one leaves a net force in the direction of the larger force. That nonzero net force means the object will accelerate in that direction, per Newton’s second law (F_net = m a). So the situation describes unbalanced forces. If the forces were equal, they'd balance and produce zero net force, giving no acceleration. Terminal velocity is a different scenario where air resistance balances gravity, not simply opposite forces of unequal magnitude.