Net Force Calculator

Net force is the vector sum of all individual forces acting simultaneously on an object. Because force is a vector quantity, both magnitude and direction must be considered when combining forces. The net force determines how an object accelerates according to Newton's Second Law (ΣF = ma).

Break each force into its x and y components using Fx = F·cos(θ) and Fy = F·sin(θ). Sum all x-components to get ΣFx and all y-components to get ΣFy. The resultant magnitude is √(ΣFx² + ΣFy²) and its direction is arctan(ΣFy / ΣFx), adjusted for the correct quadrant.

The net force is zero when all individual forces cancel each other out — meaning ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0. This is called mechanical equilibrium. According to Newton's First Law, an object in equilibrium either remains at rest or continues moving at constant velocity.

The SI unit of force is the Newton (N), where 1 N = 1 kg·m/s². Other common units include kilonewtons (kN), pound-force (lbf), and dyne (dyn). This calculator works in Newtons and outputs results in Newtons.

A non-zero net force causes an object to accelerate — it speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. The magnitude of acceleration equals the net force divided by the object's mass (a = F/m). The direction of acceleration is the same as the direction of the net force.

Decompose each force into horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components. Angles are measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. Sum all x-components and all y-components separately, then combine them using the Pythagorean theorem to get the resultant net force.

Yes — net force includes every external force acting on the object, such as gravity, normal force, friction, tension, applied forces, and air resistance. Internal forces within a system cancel out and do not contribute to the net force on the system as a whole.

An individual force is a single push or pull acting on an object in a specific direction. Net force is the overall combined effect of all individual forces — it is the single equivalent force that would produce the same acceleration as all the actual forces acting together.