A230 kg steel crate is being pushed along a cement floor. the force of friction is 480 n to the left and the applied force is 1860 n to the right. what is the normal force?

480 n down
480 n up
2300 n down
2300 n up

The answer is:

The fourth option, the normal force is equal to 2300 N going up since the weight  goes down.

To solve this problem we must consider the following:

- The normal force is a vertical force that is equal and opposite to the weight that an object applies to the ground. The normal force of an object that is on the floor will always go up since the weight always goes down.

- The weight of an object is calculating the following formula:

- For this exercise, the gravity acceleration value used is

- We are given two horizontal forces but since we are asked to find a vertical force (normal force) we will not need the given information about the horizontal forces

Now, we are given that the mass of the steel crate is equal to 230Kg, so, calculating the normal force, we have:

Hence, we have that the normal force is equal to 2300 N going up since the weight  goes down.

Have a nice day!