Normal Force Calculation for a 25.0 kg Object on a Frictionless Surface

Question 4

• Problem Statement: A 25.0 kg object is being pulled along a frictionless horizontal surface by a horizontal net force of 15.0 N.

• Given Data:

  • Mass of the object, ( m = 25.0 \, \text{kg} )
  • Horizontal net force, ( F = 15.0 \, \text{N} )

• Objective: Determine the normal force acting on the object.

Concepts Involved

• Normal Force (N): The normal force is the perpendicular contact force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it. In this case, since the surface is horizontal and frictionless:

  • The normal force balances the weight of the object, which acts downwards due to gravity.

• Weight (W): The weight of an object can be calculated using the formula:
  $<br /> W = m \cdot g<br />$
  where:

  • ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately ( 9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2 ) on the surface of the Earth).

Calculation of Weight

• Calculate the weight of the object:
  $<br /> W = 25.0 \, \text{kg} \times 9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2 = 245.25 \, \text{N}<br />$

Normal Force Calculation

• Since the object is on a horizontal frictionless surface with no vertical motion, the normal force is equal to the weight of the object:
  $<br /> N = W = 245.25 \, \text{N}<br />$

• Conclusion: The normal force acting on the object is:
  $<br /> N = 245.25 \, \text{N}<br />$

Summary

• The normal force acting on the 25.0 kg object being pulled along a frictionless horizontal surface by a force of 15.0 N is calculated based on the weight of the object, resulting in a normal force of 245.25 N.