Question

Andy pushes a backpack toward the right with a force of 6 N, while Paul pulls on it toward the left with a force of 4 N. What is the total force the backpack feels?

Answer 1

Answer: 2 N to the right

Explanation:
You subtract the opposing distances. So
you subtract 6N from 4N.

Answer 2

2 N

Step-by-step explanation:

Neglecting friction, air resistance, and gravitational pull, the force on the backpack feels like 2 Newtons. This is because we have a +6N force towards the right and -4N towards the left (left means negative and right means positive).

Summing them up, we get 2N. Now the total force differs if there are external forces acting on the backpack.