Question

1) A 2.0 kg steel block is placed on a steel table as shown below. Force F is applied to the block to the right.

a) Determine the normal force acting on the block.

Answer 1

The normal force acting on a 2.0 kg steel block on a horizontal steel table is equal to the weight of the block, which is 19.6 N directed upwards, counteracting the gravitational force.

The question involves determining the normal force acting on a 2.0 kg steel block placed on a steel table. Assuming that the system is on Earth, where the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s², the weight of the block, and thus the normal force, is calculated using the formula weight (W) = mass (m) × gravity (g). Therefore, the normal force (N) on the block would be 2.0 kg × 9.8 m/s², equating to 19.6 N acting upwards, balancing the downward gravitational force.

Being a horizontal surface with no vertical acceleration, the normal force is equal in magnitude to the gravitational force but in the opposite direction, provided that no other vertical forces are acting on the block.

Answer 2

if g=-10m/s² then the normal force is 20N

if g=-9.8m/s² then the normal force is 19.6N

Step-by-step explanation:

The force due to gravity (or weight) is mass times the acceleration due to gravity.

I am going to define up as positive so gravity will be negative.

On earth the acceleration due to gravity is -9.8m/s²

We sometimes round this to -10m/s² to make the math easier.

I will do it both ways.

so we have a mass of 2kg

2kg(-10m/s²)

so the force due to gravity is -20N

because the block is not falling through the table, the table must be pushing back with the same amount of force, but in the opposite direction so we change the sign.

using -10m/s² for g, we get a normal force of 20N (Newtons)

if we use -9.8m/s², we have 2kg(-9.8m/s²)

and a force due to gravity of -19.6N

and when we flip the sign we get a normal force of 19.6N

Hope this helps!