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grief
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In which cases is the normal force acting on an object simply mg, and in which cases is it something else? If it's not mg, how can I figure out what it is?
Normal force is the force that a surface exerts on an object that is in contact with it. It is always perpendicular to the surface and prevents an object from falling through or sinking into the surface.
The normal force is equal to mg (the weight of an object) when the object is at rest on a horizontal surface.
If mg is not enough to overcome the normal force, the object will not be able to move or accelerate. It will remain at rest on the surface.
Mg is not enough to overcome the normal force when the surface is inclined or when there is an opposing force acting on the object, such as friction.
The normal force can be calculated by using Newton's second law, which states that the sum of all forces acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In the case of an object at rest on a horizontal surface, the normal force is equal to mg. However, in other situations, the normal force may need to be calculated using trigonometry or by considering all forces acting on the object.