>>11084258>such a "normal" force is just as normal as the centrifugal force.Just to make sure: you don't think the "normal" of normal force means typical, right? It's "normal" in the sense of perpendicular to the surface. Just wanted to check.
>Its not a real force but rather an approximation for more general and fundamental forces.No, it's not an approximation. Just like centripetal force, normal force is an expression of a functional behavior, without regard to specific mechanism. Electromagnetism can in certain circumstances implement a normal force, just like how gravity can in certain circumstances implement a centrifugal force. I doubt your instructors actually told you that normal forces or other mechanical forces are fundamental, you just assumed they were when you didn't know any better. It would be very stupid and counterproductive to teach the microscopic details of electromagnetism to a basic mechanics class. The point is to understand the behavior of ordinary solid materials undergoing mechanical forces in ordinary circumstances.
Mechanics is an excellent setting to learn the basics of forces, momentum, and energy, because the situations described are intuitive enough for students to recognize when they make errors and clear their misconceptions.
ONLY once a student is comfortable with forces, momentum, energy, and so on, THEN they can begin to dive into the less intuitive realm of more fundamental forces and effects. To do so earlier will just lead to confusion and the kind of pseudery you see on this board all the time.
