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A book resting on a table has a weight of 45N. what is FN? What is FG?

User OscarVGG
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Since it is on a flat table, the normal force is equal to its total weight, FN=45N.  This is the force the table applies to the book. The force that is causing the 45N downward is gravity, which is FG=-45N.  I say negative because the force of gravity is down.  So FN and FG are equal and opposite forces.  They add to zero, which according to Newton's second law, F=ma, means that if the net force is zero, 0=ma.  Since m is not zero, a must be zero.  In other words, the book is not accelerating, it is sitting still on the table.
User Miguelangel
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