If an object is lying at rest on a surface, which of the following can you conclude about the force(s) acting on it ?
(A): No force is acting on it.
(B): A pair of balanced forces is acting on it.
(C): Multiple pairs of balanced forces are acting on it.

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (B) or (C).
No force is acting on it: This statement is incorrect because even when an object is at rest, forces do act upon it. The absence of observable motion does not mean an absence of forces.
Forces are in place to ensure the object stays at rest, but they are balanced, meaning their net sum is zero, ensuring the object does not move.
A pair of balanced forces are acting on it: This statement is correct. The pair of forces here is the downward force of gravity and the normal force of the reaction from the surface.
When an object lies at rest on a surface, the force of gravity pulling the object down is equal to the normal force pushing up from the surface, thereby remaining balanced, ensuring the object’s state of equilibrium.
Multiple pairs of balanced forces acting on it: could also be correct, depending on the circumstances. For instance, besides the downward force of gravity and the upward normal force, there can be other pairs of forces at paly, such as static friction and an applied force.
If you try to push the object, but it doesn’t move, it means the static frictional force is equal and opposite to the applied push. Thus, there are multiple pairs of balanced forces keeping the object at rest.