Here's why:
* Support Force: This force is the upward force exerted by a surface to counteract the weight of an object resting on it.
* Normal Force: The support force is often called the normal force because it acts perpendicular to the surface.
Think of it this way: Imagine a book resting on a table. The book's weight acts downwards (gravity), and the table pushes back upwards with an equal and opposite force to keep the book from falling through. This upward force is the support force, and it acts perpendicular to the table's surface.
