What happens to an object's motion when it experiences unbalanced forces?

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Prepare for the AQA GCSE Physics Paper 2 Exam. Study with interactive quizzes, detailed questions, and explanations. Boost your confidence and excel in your exam!

When an object experiences unbalanced forces, it undergoes a change in its state of motion, which is defined as acceleration. According to Newton's second law of motion, an unbalanced force acting on an object results in a net force that causes the object to accelerate in the direction of that force. This means that its speed can increase, decrease, or its direction can change, depending on the direction of the applied force.

When forces are balanced, such as in the absence of net force, an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity. Therefore, the other options provided would not accurately describe what occurs under the influence of unbalanced forces. In scenarios involving unbalanced forces, the fundamental outcome is the change in motion, quantified as acceleration, indicating that the object's velocity is changing over time.

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