* Gravity: This force pulls the book downwards, towards the center of the Earth.
* Normal Force: This force is exerted by the table on the book, pushing upwards and counteracting gravity. It's an equal and opposite force to gravity, keeping the book from falling through the table.
Why these forces balance:
The book remains at rest because the forces acting on it are balanced. Gravity is pulling the book downwards, but the table pushes back with an equal and opposite force. This means the net force acting on the book is zero, resulting in no acceleration and therefore no movement.
In summary:
The book doesn't fall because the upward force from the table (normal force) perfectly balances the downward force of gravity. This creates a state of equilibrium where the book remains stationary.