Question
The current in a river exerts a force of 9.0 N on a balloon floating in the river. A wind exerts a force of 13.0 N on the balloon in the opposite direction. Draw a free-body diagram to show the forces acting on the balloon. Use your free-body diagram to predict the effect on the balloon.
Final Answer
The balloon will accelerate upstream.
Solution video
OpenStax College Physics for AP® Courses, Chapter 4, Problem 9 (Test Prep for AP® Courses)
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Video Transcript
This is College Physics Answers with Shaun Dychko. This balloon is floating on the water so that means there is a buoyant force upwards of equal magnitude to the gravity downwards. There is a current moving to the right and it's applying a force due to the current of nine newtons and we're told that the wind or the air is blowing in the opposite direction to the current with a force of 13 newtons. Now, since the air is exerting a force greater than the current, there's going to be a net force in the direction of the air which is upstream and so this balloon will accelerate upstream.