Final answer:
The correct algebraic expression for the normal force in this situation is FN = mgcos(θ). The normal force is equal to the component of the gravitational force that is perpendicular to the surface. On an inclined plane, the normal force can be calculated as the product of the mass and the cosine of the angle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct algebraic expression for the normal force in this situation is FN = mgcos(θ).
The normal force is the force that acts perpendicular to a surface, and it counterbalances the force of gravity. On an inclined plane, the normal force is equal to the component of the gravitational force that is perpendicular to the surface.
In this case, since the ramp is slanted at an angle θ, the normal force can be calculated as the product of the mass (m) and the cosine of the angle (θ): FN = mgcos(θ).