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What forces are on a accelerating car?

There are several forces that act on a car when it is accelerating.

1. Force of friction: This force opposes the motion of the car and is caused by the contact between the tires and the road. Friction can be either static or kinetic. Static friction is the force that prevents the car from moving when the brakes are applied, while kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of the car when it is in motion.

2. Force of gravity: This force pulls the car down towards the Earth's center. The force of gravity is always present, but its effect is only noticeable when the car is not in contact with the ground, such as when it is in the air after going over a hill.

3. Air resistance: This force opposes the motion of the car and is caused by the collision of air molecules with the car's surface. Air resistance increases as the speed of the car increases.

4. Thrust: This force propels the car forward and is generated by the engine. The thrust is what overcomes the other forces and causes the car to accelerate.

The net force on the car is the vector sum of all of these forces. If the net force is positive, the car will accelerate. If the net force is negative, the car will decelerate.