Question

A 3 kg book is at rest on the table. What is the magnitude of the normal force that the table is exerting on the book?

Answer 1

Answer:

30 N

Explanation:

The normal force is the component of a contact force that is perpendicular to the surface that an object contacts. This normal force prevents the surfaces from penetrating each other.

Let us assume that the acceleration due to gravity (g) is 10 m/s². Hence the weight of the book (W) is:

W = mass of book * acceleration due to gravity = 3 kg * 10 m/s² = 30 N

The normal force ($F_n$) is gotten using:

Summation of vertical force = m$a_y$

$F_y=ma_y\\\\F_n-mg=0\\\\f_n=mg=3kg(10m/s^2)=30\ N$