Calculate the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object.
System Parameters
kg
m/s²
°
Calculation Results
Enter mass and angle to calculate
About this calculator
Quick Reference
FₙNormal Force
mMass of the object
gAcceleration due to gravity
θAngle of inclination
FₚForce parallel to surface (mg sin θ)
Overview
The normal force is the support force exerted upon an object that is in contact with another stable object. For an object resting on a surface, the normal force is perpendicular to that surface.
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Pro Tips
On a flat surface, the normal force is equal to the weight of the object (mg).
On an inclined plane, the normal force decreases as the angle increases: Fₙ = mg cos(θ).
Gravity is typically 9.81 m/s² on Earth.
The angle should be measured from the horizontal.
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Fun Facts
"If you stand in an elevator that is accelerating upward, the normal force (what you feel as your weight) increases."
"In zero gravity, there is no normal force unless another external force is applied to push the object against a surface."
"The normal force is the reason you don't fall through the floor!"
