Consider a rigid body acted upon by two forces, equal in magnitude, opposite in . direction and having the same line of action. These forces are called balanced forces as their net effect on the body is zero.
Example: A glass slab kept on a table is acted upon by two balanced forces: (i) the weight of the slab acting downward and (ii) the upward force on the slab due to the table. Their net effect on the slab being zero, the slab remains at rest.