which exerts a greater force on the table: a 1.7 kg mass physics book lying flat on a table or a 1.7 kg mass book standing on one side on the table?

force exerted is more if the area is less and force will be less if area is more. a book standing straight has lesser area on the surface of the table than the book sleeping. so 1.7 kg mass book standing on a table will exert greater force.