Why Do Contacting Bodies Exert Normal Force on Each Other?

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SUMMARY

When two bodies are in contact, they exert a normal force on each other due to electromagnetic interactions between the atoms on their surfaces. This normal force arises because the particles on each surface exert forces along a virtual line connecting them. In ideal scenarios where surfaces are parallel, the lines of action of these forces are also parallel and perpendicular to the surfaces, resulting in a net normal force acting through the center of mass of the bodies. This explanation clarifies the fundamental mechanics behind normal forces in contact scenarios.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly forces and contact mechanics.
  • Familiarity with electromagnetic interactions at the atomic level.
  • Knowledge of vector forces and their components.
  • Basic grasp of the concept of center of mass in physical systems.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of contact forces in classical mechanics.
  • Explore the role of electromagnetic forces in atomic interactions.
  • Learn about vector decomposition of forces in physics.
  • Investigate the concept of center of mass and its applications in mechanics.
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the mechanics of forces in contact scenarios, particularly in the context of classical mechanics and atomic interactions.

phymatter
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whenever 2 bodies are in contact , why do they exert force normal to each other on each other , i mean the normal force .
 
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Yes. If the 2 bodies are pressed against each other, they will develop a normal force on each other.

Cheers
 
These contact forces generate due to electromagnetic interactions between the atoms on their surfaces...and the answer to your ques that why they are normal is :

Actually when two paticles exert force on each other they always exert it along the virtual line passing through them ... so in real world imagine a no of particles on one surface and a no of them on another ... these particles will exert force on each other in opposite direction and along the lines i wrote above... now for ideally all lines being parallel (because we consider the surfaces parallel in problems), all lines of action of force are parallel to each other and prependicular to the surfaces......and now we consider the forces to sum up and acting through center of mass ... so we get a normal force ...
I hope u get it now.....this was all i know......if I'm wrong get me know...!
 

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