Practice Normal Force in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

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Quick Recap

The perpendicular contact force that a surface exerts on an object pressing against it, directed away from the surface.

The floor pushing up on you so you don't fall through — it acts at a right angle to whatever surface the object touches.

Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.

Example 1

medium
A 50 kg50\text{ kg} person stands in an elevator accelerating down at 3 m/s23\text{ m/s}^2 (g=10g=10). Find the normal force.

Example 2

easy
A 2 kg2\text{ kg} object hangs from a string (not touching any surface). What is the normal force on it?

Example 3

challenge
A 3 kg3\text{ kg} box sits in an elevator. A scale beneath reads 36 N36\text{ N} (g=10g=10). Find the elevator's acceleration and its direction.

Example 4

medium
Find the normal force on a 2 kg2\text{ kg} box on a flat floor moving at constant velocity (g=10g=10), no vertical applied force.

Example 5

medium
A 7 kg7 \text{ kg} block sits on a 40°40° incline. Find the normal force perpendicular to the slope. Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 6

medium
A 60 kg60 \text{ kg} person rides an elevator accelerating downward at 2 m/s22 \text{ m/s}^2. What does a scale read (in N)? Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 7

easy
A 4 kg4 \text{ kg} box is on a level table. An upward rope pulls on it with 10 N10 \text{ N}. Find the normal force from the table. Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 8

medium
A 70 kg70\text{ kg} person stands in an elevator at constant velocity (g=10g=10). Find the normal force.

Example 9

medium
A car of mass 1000 kg1000 \text{ kg} goes over the top of a circular hill of radius 50 m50 \text{ m} at 15 m/s15 \text{ m/s}. What is the normal force on the car at the top? Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 10

challenge
A 5 kg5\text{ kg} box on a flat floor is pushed by a 40 N40\text{ N} force at 37∘37^\circ below horizontal (g=10g=10, sin⁡37∘=0.6\sin 37^\circ=0.6). Find the normal force.

Example 11

medium
A 3 kg3\text{ kg} block on a 60∘60^\circ incline (g=10g=10, cos⁡60∘=0.5\cos 60^\circ=0.5). Find the normal force.

Example 12

challenge
At the top of a vertical circular loop of radius 4 m4\text{ m}, a 2 kg2\text{ kg} cart moves at 8 m/s8\text{ m/s} (g=10g=10). Find the track's normal force on it.

Example 13

easy
A 2 kg2 \text{ kg} block sits on a level surface. Someone presses down on it with an additional 10 N10 \text{ N}. Find the normal force. Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 14

medium
A 60 kg60\text{ kg} person stands in an elevator accelerating up at 2 m/s22\text{ m/s}^2 (g=10g=10). Find the normal force.

Example 15

hard
A 1 kg1 \text{ kg} block rests on a horizontal surface. A spring pushes up on it with force Fs=4 NF_s = 4 \text{ N}. Find the normal force. Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 16

hard
A 2 kg2 \text{ kg} block on a 25°25° incline is pushed against the slope by a horizontal force of 15 N15 \text{ N}. Find the normal force. Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 17

medium
A 4 kg4\text{ kg} box (g=10g=10) is pulled up by a vertical rope with 30 N30\text{ N} while resting on a floor. Find the normal force.

Example 18

hard
A 0.3 kg0.3 \text{ kg} ball at the bottom of a vertical circular loop of radius 0.6 m0.6 \text{ m} moves at 4 m/s4 \text{ m/s}. What is the normal force from the track on the ball? Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Example 19

easy
A 4 kg4\text{ kg} box sits on a flat floor with no other vertical force (g=9.8g=9.8). State the normal force.

Example 20

medium
A 30 N30 \text{ N} box on a level floor experiences a horizontal 10 N10 \text{ N} push. What is the normal force?
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