The discussion revolves around the concept of normal forces acting on objects in contact with horizontal, vertical, and diagonal surfaces. Participants explore how normal forces function in different orientations and their implications in various scenarios.
Participants generally agree on the definition of normal forces being perpendicular to surfaces, but there is some disagreement regarding the implications and interpretations of normal forces in different contexts.
Some definitions and interpretations of normal forces may depend on specific contexts or assumptions that are not fully explored in the discussion.
Nugatory said:Any time something is pressing on a surface, no matter what the angle of the surface, there is a normal that is perpendicular to the surface. If you're leaning against a wall, you are held in place by the vertical normal force from the floor (which stops you from falling to the center of the earth) and the horizontal normal force from the wall (which stops you from tipping over even though you aren't standing straight).
Lie flat on an inclined plane and the normal force will be perpendicular to the surface of the plane, neither horizontal nor vertical.
Yes, sort of.Sundown444 said:And normal forces from walls prevent something from falling through the walls, right?
anorlunda said:Yes, sort of.
But it sounds like you are missing the significance of the word normal.
Definition of normal
1:perpendicular; especially :perpendicular to a tangent (see 1tangent 3) at a point of tangency