Question

A physics professor places a soda pop can on the table and asks a student to identify the forces acting upon the can and the directions of each force. The two forces acting on the soda pop can are

a. the weight force downward and normal force from the table downward.
b. the weight force downward and normal force from the table upward.
c. the weight force upward and normal force from the table downward.
d. the weight force upward and normal force from the table upward.

Answer 1

The soda pop can on a table is subject to a downward weight force due to gravity and an upward normal force from the table that balances the weight.

Step-by-step explanation:

The forces acting upon a soda pop can placed on a table include the weight force acting downward due to gravity, and the normal force from the table acting upward to support the can. The soda pop can on a table is subject to a downward weight force due to gravity and an upward normal force from the table that balances the weight.

The weight of the can is due to Earth's gravitational attraction and pulls it towards the center of the Earth. The normal force is a contact force that the table exerts on the can, which is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the weight force when the can is at rest.

It is the force that prevents the can from accelerating downwards through the table, as it counteracts the weight of the can.