Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The supporting force is the upward force exerted by a surface to counteract and balance out the downward force due to gravity. It prevents objects from falling through surfaces.
The normal force is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the supporting force. It acts perpendicular to a surface and prevents objects from sinking into or passing through it.
Tension Force: Tension is a pulling force transmitted through a string, cable, or rope when it's pulled tight at both ends. It can be considered as another type of supporting force.
Friction opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. In some cases, friction can also act as a supporting or opposing force depending on its direction relative to other forces involved.