Question

what force acts perpendicular to the surface of the object in contact with

Answer 1

Explanation:

Normal force

Normal force always acts perpendicular to the contact surface. It can act counter to gravity or to any other force that pushes an object against a surface. Think of normal force as the force that keeps a surface solid; without normal force, an object would pass right through a surface.

Answer 2

The force that acts perpendicular to the surface of the object in contact with is called Normal force.

Explanation:

• Normal force is the force that is felt when any surface pushes against an object which is placed on that surface.
• Any body that rests on a surface, exerts a force due to gravitation on the surface. This force is object's weight which is given as mass times acceleration due to gravity.

According to Newton's third law of motion:

"For every force of action that a body exerts, there is an equal and opposite force that is exerted on the body"

• Normal force is the force that is exerted by the surface on the body which is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
• This normal force is responsible for keeping the body in stationary position and not allowing it to fall under force of gravity.
• Normal force is represented as N.