Public School, Deer Creek Minnesota, 1918 LakesnWoods.com Postcard and Postcard Image Collection - click image to enlarge Aerial view, Deer Creek Minnesota, 1972
Whenever work is done upon an object by an external force, there will be a change in the total mechanical energy of the object. If only internal forces are doing work (no work done by external forces), there is no change in total mechanical energy; the total mechanical energy is said to be conserved.
If an object has a net force acting on it, it will accelerate. The object will speed up, slow down or change direction. An unbalanced force (net force) acting on an object changes its speed and/or direction of motion. An unbalanced force is an unopposed force that causes a change in motion. A net force = unbalanced force. If however, the forces are balanced (in equilibrium) and there is no net force, the object will not accelerate and the velocity will remain constant. Unbalanced Forces: Placing a box on the seesaw unbalances it.