Question

There are 6 types of contact forces. I am having doubt with applied force and normal force because both acts when there is contact between two bodies when we push a book kept on a table we take normal force from table surface, but what about the contact between my hand and book we say that applied force, when we push a wall horizontally we say its reaction force is normal force but how ?

Answer 1

The applied force is the force that you apply on an object, such as when you push a book with your hand. On the other hand, the normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object, like the table supporting the book.

Step-by-step explanation:

When there is contact between two bodies, two types of contact forces can come into play: the applied force and the normal force. The applied force is the force that you apply on an object, such as when you push a book with your hand. On the other hand, the normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object, like the table supporting the book. For example, when you push a book on a table, you apply a force with your hand and the table exerts a normal force to support the weight of the book. Similarly, when you push a wall horizontally, the reaction force from the wall is the normal force.

The applied force and normal force are both contact forces, but they serve different purposes and act in different directions. The applied force is the force that you exert on an object, while the normal force is the force exerted by a surface to counterbalance the weight or external forces acting on the object. It's important to note that the applied force and normal force are always perpendicular to each other, meaning they act in different directions.