The term "normal component" refers to the part of a vector that is perpendicular to a surface or plane. Synonyms for this term include "perpendicular component," "orthogonal component," and "unidirectional component." These terms all describe the same physical concept and are used interchangeably in physics and mathematics. Other related terms that are used in the same context include "tangential component," which refers to the part of a vector that is parallel to the surface, and "unit vector," which refers to a vector that has a length of one and is used to normalize other vectors. Understanding these concepts is essential for solving problems that involve forces and motion within a three-dimensional space.