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Re: Nomenclature: Normal forces

...Snip ...

As a final observation, I wonder how many of our students think that
"normal" force means the "usual" or "ordinary" force.

Brian McInnes


Look at the etymolgy to see why normal is perpendicular--its root is
Latin for Carpenter's square. I ask my students how many have had
Latin, usually about 1 in 30.

I totally agree with Brian that Normal and Friction should be
discussed as components of the contact force.

Vern Lindberg