You push along a handle down toward a sled to move it across the snow. The handle is at an angle with the horizontal. As you increase the angle the handle makes with the horizontal,(steeper angle), what happens to the normal force the ground exerts on the sled?
The sled looks heavier to the ground, normal force increases. Think scale that you push down on.
no change
To understand what happens to the normal force exerted by the ground on the sled as you increase the angle of the handle with the horizontal, it is essential to consider the forces acting on the sled.
When you push the sled, you apply a force in the forward direction. This force can be resolved into two components: a horizontal component, responsible for the sled's forward motion, and a vertical component, perpendicular to the ground. This vertical component is what we are interested in, as it determines the normal force.
Let's break down the different scenarios as you increase the angle of the handle:
1. When the handle is horizontal (angle = 0°): In this case, the entire force you apply is in the horizontal direction. As a result, there is no vertical component, and the normal force exerted by the ground on the sled is equal to the sled's weight.
2. As you increase the angle of the handle (angle > 0°): The force you apply still has a horizontal component, but now there is also a vertical component due to the upward direction of the handle. This vertical component reduces the sled's weight that is supported by the ground. Consequently, the normal force exerted by the ground on the sled becomes smaller compared to the weight.
3. When the handle is vertical (angle = 90°): At this point, the entire force you apply is in the vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground. The horizontal component responsible for the sled's forward motion is now zero. As a result, the sled loses contact with the ground, and the normal force exerted by the ground becomes zero.
In summary, as you increase the angle of the handle from horizontal to vertical, the normal force exerted by the ground on the sled decreases gradually, starting from the sled's weight and reducing to zero at a 90° angle.