Final answer:
The normal force acting on a mountain goat weighing 700 N on a 60° slope is calculated using the weight of the goat and the cosine of the slope's angle, resulting in a normal force of 350 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the normal force acting on a mountain goat that weighs 700 N and is standing on a 60° slope, we need to apply the concept of forces on inclined planes. Any object on an inclined plane will have its weight divided into two components, one perpendicular to the plane (normal force) and one parallel to the plane (the component of gravitational force pulling the object down the slope). The normal force on an inclined plane is calculated using the formula Normal force (N) = Weight (W) × cos(θ), where θ is the angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal.
In this case, θ is 60°, and the weight (W) of the mountain goat is 700 N. Thus, the normal force will be 700 N × cos(60°). Since cos(60°) equals 0.5, the normal force is 350 N.