Assume all other forces on the rope are balanced. Which statement describes the forces on the rope?
A: The forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on the rope.
B: The forces are balanced, so there is no net force on the rope.
To determine if there is a net force on the rope, look at the forces:
Kurt is pulling the rope toward himself with a force of 230 N.
Gary is pulling the rope toward himself with a force of 300 N.
The forces are in opposite directions, and the forces have different magnitudes: 230 N and 300 N. This means that the forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on the rope.