Question

Basking in the sun, a 1.10 kg lizard lies on a flat rock tilted at an angle of 15.0° with respect to the horizontal. What is the magnitude of the normal force exerted by the rock on the lizard? a. 10.5 N c. 10.4 N b. 2.8 N d. -10.5 N

Answer 1

10.4 N

Given

m = 1.10 kg

θ = 15.0°

g = 9.81 m/s2

Solution

Fnet, y = ΣF y = Fn − Fg, y = 0

Fn = Fg, y = Fg

cosθ = mgcosθ

Fn = (1.10 kg)(9.81 m/s2

)(cos15.0°) = 10.4 N