- #1
Bipolarity
- 776
- 2
A bit confused about the operation of normal forces.
When does a normal force act due to some surface on an object? When the object touches the surface or when the object actually applies a force on the surface?
The reason I ask this is because I am confused about normal forces experienced by objects traveling in circular loops, such as roller coasters etc.
When the roller coaster is at the top of the circular loop, it is touching the surface of the circular track, but it isn't applying any force on it. So would there still be a normal force?
Thanks!
BiP
When does a normal force act due to some surface on an object? When the object touches the surface or when the object actually applies a force on the surface?
The reason I ask this is because I am confused about normal forces experienced by objects traveling in circular loops, such as roller coasters etc.
When the roller coaster is at the top of the circular loop, it is touching the surface of the circular track, but it isn't applying any force on it. So would there still be a normal force?
Thanks!
BiP