A 230 kg steel crate is being pushed along a cement floor. The force of friction is 480 N to the left and the applied force is 1860 N to the right. What is the normal force?
A. 480 N down
B. 480 N up
C. 2300 N down
D. 2300 N up
To find the normal force, we need to analyze the forces acting on the steel crate.
In this scenario, the force of friction is given as 480 N to the left, and the applied force is given as 1860 N to the right.
The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it. In this case, the weight of the steel crate is equal to its mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2).
We can calculate the net force acting on the crate by subtracting the force of friction from the applied force:
Net force = Applied force - Force of friction
= 1860 N - 480 N
= 1380 N to the right
Now, according to Newton's second law of motion, the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration:
Net force = mass * acceleration
Since the net force is acting to the right, we can assume that the acceleration is also in the same direction. Therefore, the crate is accelerating to the right.
We can rearrange the equation to solve for the acceleration:
Acceleration = Net force / mass
= 1380 N / 230 kg
= 6 m/s^2
Next, we need to consider the vertical forces acting on the steel crate. In this case, the crate is on a horizontal surface, and the only vertical force acting on it is the weight of the crate.
The weight of the crate is equal to its mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity:
Weight = mass * acceleration due to gravity
= 230 kg * 9.8 m/s^2
= 2254 N
Therefore, the normal force is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the weight of the crate. Since the weight is acting downward, the normal force is acting upward.
The correct answer is (B) 480 N up.
the normal force is the force perpendicular to the load bearing surface...it is equal to the weight of the load on the surface
in this case ... m * g
the force is upward from the surface