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The moon has a gravitational acceleration of 1.6 m/s2. A 1,100-kilogram space rover travels on its surface at 3.2 meters per second. What is the approximate magnitude of the normal force acting on the vehicle?

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If the rover is moving at a constant speed, then there is no net force acting on it and the rover is in equilibrium. In particular, Newton's second law says that

n + (-w) = 0 → n = w

where n and w denote the magnitude of the normal force acting on the rover and its weight, respectively.

With a gravitational acceleration of 1.6 m/s², the rover's weight, and hence the magnitude of the normal force, is

w = n = (1100 kg) (1.6 m/s²) = 1760 N

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