Concept explainers
How many significant forces act on a your physics book when it is at rest on a table? Identify the forces.
The forces that act on a physics book when it is at rest on table.
Answer to Problem 31A
Two forces act on the book at rest, first is the weight of the book, second is the support force on the book exerted by the table.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
Equilibrium is basically a state of no change in the state of the object. Thus, if the object is in equilibrium, then the net force on it is zero, that is,
When a book rests on the table, then it is in equilibrium. Hence, the net force on the book is zero.
But it does not mean that no forces act on it. The weight of the book always acts on it which is balanced by the support force exerted on it by the table, making the net force on it as zero.
Conclusion:
Hence, the support force got balanced by the weight of the book lying on the table.
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Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program
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