Q15. When you stand still on the grou... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 4: Q15. (page 99)

When you stand still on the ground, how large a force does the ground exert on you? Why doesn鈥檛 this force make you rise up to the air?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The force exerted by the ground is equal to the weight of the person. This force does not make you rise up to the air because the net acceleration of the person is zero.

Step by step solution

Step 1. Newton’s third law

From Newton鈥檚 third law of motion, it is known that 鈥渇or every action, there is a similar and opposite reaction鈥�. For example, when you step on any surface, your foot forces the surface backward, and in return, the surface forces your foot forward.

Step 2. Application of Newton’s third law

When a person stands still on the ground, the force exerted by the ground on the person is equal to the weight of the person acting opposite to the weight.

As there are no other forces acting on the person other than the weight of the person and the force exerted by the ground on the person, the net force acting on the person is zero. According to Newton鈥檚 second law, the net acceleration of the person is zero.

So, the force exerted by the ground on the person doesn鈥檛 make the person rise up to the air.