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Why can a contact force be maintained only up to a certain limit?
ABecause contact forces always vanish at rest
BBecause they depend only on gravitational attraction
CBecause if the applied force exceeds interatomic binding, the string or surface may split
DBecause atoms never exert forces on neighbouring atoms
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Because if the applied force exceeds interatomic binding, the string or surface may split
The text explains that contact forces originate from interatomic forces between neighbouring atoms. If the required force exceeds the interatomic binding within a body, the material can fail, so the string or surface may split into pieces.
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