- #1
SamuraiDave
- 3
- 0
How do i calculate a normal force when gravity is not the only force involved??
Dear everyone,
This is my first post on the physics forum and I have a problem which I think relates to calculating the normal force (perhaps I'm wrong).
I'm programming a game and I have a particle which has a mass (M) - a scalar, velocity (V) -a 2d vector...The game has gravity (G) - a constant scalar value.
Also in the game is a line - (y=mx+c) which represents the surface or floor which the particle can rest on.
For now, imagine that the line is perfectly horizontal and the particle is resting on the line.
Due to gravity, the normal force is making sure the particles velocity remains at 0.
But, imagine another force (other than gravity) acting on the particle at a 45 degree angle...i.e. pushing the particle down and right.
My main question is, in this case, how would the particle move? It is obvious that not all of the force will be added to velocity (otherwise the particle would go through the line), as the sum of this force + gravity will be greater than the normal force.
I assume in this case the particle should move to the right, perpendicular to the normal force? but how? and how much?
Sorry if this is very difficult to visualize. I hope somebody can help, as this problem has been going through my mind a lot.
Cheers,
David
Dear everyone,
This is my first post on the physics forum and I have a problem which I think relates to calculating the normal force (perhaps I'm wrong).
I'm programming a game and I have a particle which has a mass (M) - a scalar, velocity (V) -a 2d vector...The game has gravity (G) - a constant scalar value.
Also in the game is a line - (y=mx+c) which represents the surface or floor which the particle can rest on.
For now, imagine that the line is perfectly horizontal and the particle is resting on the line.
Due to gravity, the normal force is making sure the particles velocity remains at 0.
But, imagine another force (other than gravity) acting on the particle at a 45 degree angle...i.e. pushing the particle down and right.
My main question is, in this case, how would the particle move? It is obvious that not all of the force will be added to velocity (otherwise the particle would go through the line), as the sum of this force + gravity will be greater than the normal force.
I assume in this case the particle should move to the right, perpendicular to the normal force? but how? and how much?
Sorry if this is very difficult to visualize. I hope somebody can help, as this problem has been going through my mind a lot.
Cheers,
David