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GCSE Physics · key term
A force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it, acting perpendicular to the surface.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.5.1.2 · Paper 2
A force exerted by a touching surface at right angles to that surface.
Revise: Contact and non-contact forcesA surface can also push on an object touching it; this normal contact force acts at right angles to the surface. For example, a desk pushes upwards on a book resting on it.
Specification 9.1, 9.4 · Paper 2
The force exerted by a surface on an object touching it, acting perpendicular to the surface.
Revise: Object InteractionsA table pushes upwards on a book resting on it. This normal contact force acts at right angles to the table’s surface; ‘normal’ here means perpendicular, not ordinary. A tilted surface would exert a normal contact force perpendicular to the tilted surface.
Specification P2.2a, P2.2c, P2.2f, P2.2h, P2.2p · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
The supporting force exerted by a surface on an object touching it, acting perpendicular to that surface.
Revise: InteractionsWhen a book rests on a table, the table exerts a normal contact force on the book. This is a supporting force that acts perpendicular to the surface. On a horizontal table it points upwards, but on a slope it acts at right angles to the slope.
The support force exerted perpendicular to a surface on an object touching it.
A force perpendicular to a surface that supports or pushes on an object touching it.
A contact force exerted by a surface on an object, acting away from and perpendicular to the surface.
Paper 1, Paper 2
The force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it, acting perpendicular to the surface.
Revise: ForcesContact interactions include normal contact forces and friction.
Classify an interaction by asking whether the objects must touch: gravity, electrostatics and magnetism are non-contact interactions; normal contact force and friction require contact.
Do not assume that a normal contact force is always upwards. “Normal” means perpendicular to the surface, so its direction changes when the surface is sloping or vertical.
Label every force arrow with the type of force. Do not use vague labels such as “push” if a more precise description, such as friction or normal contact force, is available.
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