If two forces of 4N and 10N are applied to an object in unknown directions, what can be said about the net force?

When two forces are applied to an object in unknown directions, the net force can vary based on the angle between the two forces. The net force can be determined using vector addition, where the direction of each force must be considered.

The maximum possible net force occurs when both forces are aligned in the same direction, which would give a total of 14N (4N + 10N). Conversely, the minimum net force occurs when the forces are in opposite directions. In this scenario, the smallest possible net force would be the difference between the two forces, which is 6N (10N - 4N).

Given these considerations, it is impossible for the net force to equal 5N, as no arrangement of the two given forces will yield that specific magnitude. The range of possible net force values is therefore from 6N (if the forces act in opposite directions) to 14N (if they act in the same direction). This confirms that 5N is not a possible outcome, validating the assertion made.