In applicative-order Scheme, when call (factorial 5), the call will not end. because, when call unless, even if(= n 1) is true,(factorial (- n 1)) will be called. so n will be 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1 .... . In normal-order Scheme, this will work, Because normal-order Scheme uses lazy evaluation, when (= n 1) is true,(factorial n) will not be called.
Annonymous
Here is an implementation in the underlying scheme to see that it indeed works this way.