Answer:
5. Is greater than mg, always
Explanation:
If the cone has an inclination of angle β, the sum of forces will be:
x-axis (centripetal axis):
N*sin β = m*ax where ax is the centripetal acceleration
y-axis:
N*cos β - m*g = m*ay where ay is the vertical acceleration. If the block starts falling down, ay will be negative. If the block starts sliding up, ay will be positive. If the block does not move up nor down, ay=0.
Solving for N:
If ay is positive or zero, N will be greater than mg. If ay is negative, N will be less than mg.
If the block is sliding along a horizontal circular path (not up, nor down), ay = 0, so N will always be greater than mg.
