Question

When rebuilding her car's engine, a physics major must exert 540 N of force to insert a dry steel piston into a steel cylinder. What is the magnitude of the normal force in newtons between the piston and cylinder?

Answer 1

The normal force between the piston and cylinder when a force of 540 N is applied to insert the piston is also 540 N, as the force applied is perpendicular to the cylinder's surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a student rebuilding her car's engine must exert 540 N of force to insert a dry steel piston into a steel cylinder, the magnitude of the normal force between the piston and cylinder is also equal to 540 N. This is because the piston force is being applied perpendicular to the surface of the cylinder. The normal force is by definition the force that surfaces exert to prevent solid objects from passing through each other. In this situation, when inserting the piston into the cylinder without any oblique forces or angles involved, the 540 N force exerted by the physics major is indeed the normal force.