Question

A 55.0-kg person steps on a scale which is on a horizontal floor. What is the normal force acting on the individual by the scale?

Answer 1

ANSWER:

-539 N

STEP-BY-STEP EXPLANATION:

We know that the normal force is the force opposite to the force exerted by the weight, therefore, we can calculate the normal force as follows:

$\begin{gathered} F_N=-W \\ W=m\cdot g \\ F_N=-m\cdot g \\ \text{ replacing:} \\ F_N=-55\cdot9.8 \\ F_N=-539\text{ N} \end{gathered}$

The normal force is -539 N