Question

A book rest on a table. The force of gravity pulls down on the book 20 newton’s. What prevents the book from accelerating downward at 9.8 m/s2

Answer 1

the push of the table on the book

Step-by-step explanation:

There are two forces acting upon the book.

First force - the Earth's gravitational pull ( a downward force)

Second force - the push of the table on the book ( referred as a normal force) (pushes upward on the book.)

These two forces are of equal magnitude and in opposite directions (20 N)

Therefore they balance each other

The book is said to be at equilibrium state without been subjected to a acceleration