The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it. It acts perpendicular to the surface and prevents solid objects from passing through each other.
When an object is placed on a surface, such as a book on a table, the weight of the book exerts a force on the table due to gravity. In response, the table exerts an equal and opposite force, called the normal force, to support the weight of the book and prevent it from falling through the table.
The magnitude of the normal force can be calculated using the formula:
Normal Force (N) = Weight of the Object (W)
It's important to note that the normal force is a reaction force and is always perpendicular to the surface supporting the object. If the object is on an incline or on an angle, the normal force will adjust accordingly to be perpendicular to the surface at that point.
Understanding the concept of normal force is important in physics and engineering, as it is a fundamental aspect of analyzing the forces acting on objects in various situations.