What happens to an object's motion when an unbalanced force is applied?

When an unbalanced force is applied to an object, it results in a change in the object's motion, which can manifest as either acceleration (speeding up) or deceleration (slowing down). According to Newton's second law of motion, the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration can be expressed with the equation ( F = ma ), where ( F ) is the net force acting on the object, ( m ) is its mass, and ( a ) is the acceleration produced.

If no unbalanced force acts on an object, it would maintain a state of rest or uniform motion, according to Newton's first law of motion (the law of inertia). However, when an unbalanced force comes into play—such as a push or pull—it disrupts this equilibrium. Consequently, the object either begins to move (accelerate), changes its speed (either increasing or decreasing), or alters its motion in some other way, ensuring that the correct interpretation leads to the conclusion that the object's velocity is affected, confirming that it accelerates or decelerates based on the net force and the object's mass.