Question

While deciding where to drive a supporting nail, you are pressing a 20 N picture frame against the wall to keep it from falling. What is the minimum force perpendicular to the wall that you must exert on the frame to keep it stationary?

Answer 1

To keep the picture frame stationary, you need to exert a force equal to the weight of the picture frame. The force can be calculated by multiplying the mass of the picture frame by the acceleration due to gravity. In this case, the minimum force required is 19.6 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

To keep the picture frame stationary, you need to exert a force perpendicular to the wall. This force is equal to the weight of the picture frame. Since the weight of an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity, you can calculate the force by multiplying the mass of the picture frame by the acceleration due to gravity.

Let's assume the mass of the picture frame is 2 kg. The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s^2. So, the force required to keep the picture frame stationary is:

Force = mass × acceleration due to gravity
Force = 2 kg × 9.8 m/s^2
Force = 19.6 N

Therefore, you need to exert a minimum force of 19.6 N perpendicular to the wall to keep the picture frame stationary.