Normal forces and tension
Contact geometry determines the force direction.
Key knowledge
A normal force is the perpendicular component of a contact force. Tension in an ideal flexible connector pulls along the connector; a slack ideal rope cannot transmit compression. The contact/tension magnitudes are solved from dynamics and constraints, rather than being universally equal to weight. A massless taut connector over a frictionless ideal pulley has the same tension magnitude along it.
Conditions and scope
- Normal and tangential contact components refer to the stated local surface.
- Equal tension uses the massless, taut, ideal connector and frictionless pulley assumptions; connector mass or pulley friction/inertia can change it.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Read §5.6 normal-force/incline and Tension body, including massless-rope and frictionless direction-change qualifications; exclude blanket claims that every contact force supports exactly mg.
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Entry details
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- foundations-refresh.1
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