"Mark's physics book is on the desk. Mark pushes horizontally (from the side) on the book, but the book does not move."
What should the force diagram for this situation look like?

Question

"Mark's physics book is on the desk. Mark pushes horizontally (from the side) on the book, but the book does not move." 
What should the force diagram for this situation look like?

anonymous · Answer

if the object doesnt move, then the forces acting on it must be equally opposite

agentnao · Answer

So would the arrows be the same length in all four directions?

anonymous · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

yes

anonymous · Answer

well the book doesn't sink into the surface so the normal force ( the force of the desk) is equal to the force of gravity. Also  since the force didn't move the book, the forces of static friction and the force of the push are equal

agentnao · Answer

Ah, okay. Thank you! I'm not sure why I didn't think of that myself. It was just weird to imagine pushing a book and the book not moving.

anonymous · Answer

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