Question
When we put a book on a table, the book pushes down on the table . What do we call the force that th e table exe rts on the bo ok? Enter your an swer
Answer
4.1
(250 Votes)
Roland
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The Normal Force
Explanation
When we put a book on a table, two forces are at play, that is, the weight of the book that pulls it downward due to gravity. This is the force the book exerts on the table. Then there is another force that is acting upward on the book. This force is exerted by the table on the book to counter the weight of the book and keep it from going through the table. It is a reactive force that prevents the book from falling through the table as a result of the downward force it has exerted. This is called the Normal Force. It's equivalent in magnitude to the weight of the book but acts in the opposite direction, keeping the book stationary on the table. By Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so this normal force precisely counteracts the force of the book's weight and results in zero net force. The book remains in equilibrium with no acceleration, according to Newton’s first law known as the law of inertia. Therefore, the correct answer is "The Normal Force".