What is the reaction force? (eg from the ground or table)

The reaction force is the force that the table exerts on an object which is pressing on it.
The reason there is a reaction force is because the table is made of atoms and you can imagine these atoms been connected by really stiff springs. When the object presses on the table it squishes the springs slightly, and so the springs push back to try and return to their original shape. Its the springs pressing back which is the origin of the reaction force.

Answered by Nick W. Physics tutor

2680 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is the Rutherford alpha scattering experiment and what does it tell us?


Why protons held together in the nucleus?


What is terminal velocity?


A coil is connected to a voltmeter. A bar magnet, initially held above the coil, is left to fall into the coil. Explain why the voltmeter shows a reading. How will the reading of the voltmeter be affected if the magnet is dropped from a greater height?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences