Question

What is the difference between a tangential force, normal force & shear?

Answer 1

Normal stress is a result of load applied perpendicular to a member.Shear stress however results when a load is applied parallel to an area. Looking again at figure one, it can be seen that both bending and shear stresses will develop. Like in bendingstress, shear stress will vary across the cross sectional area.

Answer 2

Tangential force is a force (or its components) acting along the difference of motion. Normal force is the one perpendicular to the direction of motion.