A block weighing 5.0 N is at rest on a horizontal surface. A 1.0 N upward force is applied to the block by an attached helium filled balloon with a massless string. What are the magnitude and direction of the force of the horizontal surface on the block?
Also, what would the free body diagram look like?
Also, what would the free body diagram look like?
1 Answer
Sep 25, 2017
The surface provides an upward normal of 4.0 N. See Explanation for description of the free body diagram.
Explanation:
The block continues to be at rest on the horizontal surface. Therefore all forces must sum to zero, yielding
There are 3 forces acting on the block:
- Its weight is a downward 5.0 N force
- The balloon lifts with a force of 1 N
- The surface provides an upward normal force,
#F_N# that we have to calculate.
Let the upward direction be the positive direction.
The free body diagram would show upward forces of 1 N & 4 N and a downward force of 5 N.
I hope this helps,
Steve