Normal Contact Force
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
The normal contact force is a support force that stops objects from passing through one another.
About The Normal Contact Force
- The normal contact force is a force so it is measured in Newtons.
- The normal contact force is a contact force.
- The normal in normal contact force means the force acts at right angles to the surfaces that are touching.
- The normal contact force is equal in size and opposite in direction to any force applied to a solid surface.
Examples
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| The normal contact force acts at the surface where the bowling ball touches the ground. | The normal contact force acts between the tyres and the surface of the road. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
The normal contact force is a support force that stops objects from passing through one another.
About The Normal Contact Force
- The normal contact force is a force so it is measured in Newtons.
- The normal contact force is a contact force.
- The normal in normal contact force means the force acts at right angles to the surfaces that are touching.
- Any two objects that are touching will experience the normal contact force. It is usually shown between the ground and an object with weight, but that is not always the case. Leaning against the wall results in a normal contact force between your body and the wall.
- The normal contact force is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to any force applied to a solid surface.
Examples
|
|
| The normal contact force acts at the surface where the bowling ball touches the ground. | The normal contact force acts between the tyres and the surface of the road. |
References
Edexcel
- Normal contact force, page 132, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Normal contact force, page 374, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel