Question

studies have identified some misconceptions held about basic physics by students and teachers. explain why each statement is a misconception. 8. misconception: the normal force on an object on a horizontal surface always equals the weight of the object.

Explanation:

The normal force is the perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an object. While it equals the weight of an object on a horizontal surface when no other vertical - acting forces are present, if there are additional vertical forces (such as an upward or downward push on the object), the normal force will change. For example, if you push down on an object on a horizontal surface, the normal force will be greater than the weight of the object; if you lift the object slightly while it's still in contact with the surface, the normal force will be less than the weight.

Answer:

The statement is a misconception because the normal force on an object on a horizontal surface only equals the weight of the object when there are no other vertical forces acting on the object. When other vertical forces are present, the normal force will be different from the weight.