Question

four children pull on the same stuffed toy at the same time, yet there is no net force on the toy. how is this possible?

Explanation:

Net force is the vector - sum of all forces acting on an object. If the forces exerted by the four children on the stuffed toy are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction such that they cancel each other out, the vector - sum of these forces (net force) will be zero.

Answer:

The forces exerted by the four children on the stuffed toy are balanced. That is, the magnitudes of the forces and their directions are such that the vector - sum of all the forces acting on the toy is zero.