Question

A physics major is cooking breakfast when he notices that the frictional force between his steel spatula and his Teflon frying pan is only 0.200 N. Knowing the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two materials is 0.04, he quickly calculates the normal force. What is it?

Answer 1

Answer:50 N

Explanation:

Given

Friction force $f_r=0.2\ N$

coefficient of kinetic friction $\mu_k=0.04$

and Friction force for a moving object is given by the product of coefficient of kinetic friction and Normal reaction

$f_r=\mu _k\times N$

$f_r=0.04\times N$

$N=\frac{0.2}{0.04}=50\ N$

Answer 2

Answer:

5 N

Explanation:

Friction force, f = 0.2 N

coefficient of friction, μ = 0.04

According to the laws of friction

Friction force = μ x Normal reaction

0.2 = 0.04 x N

N = 5

Thus, the normal force is 5 N.