Kinetic friction Definition and 509 Threads

Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:

Dry friction is a force that opposes the relative lateral motion of two solid surfaces in contact. Dry friction is subdivided into static friction ("stiction") between non-moving surfaces, and kinetic friction between moving surfaces. With the exception of atomic or molecular friction, dry friction generally arises from the interaction of surface features, known as asperities (see Figure 1).
Fluid friction describes the friction between layers of a viscous fluid that are moving relative to each other.Lubricated friction is a case of fluid friction where a lubricant fluid separates two solid surfaces.Skin friction is a component of drag, the force resisting the motion of a fluid across the surface of a body.
Internal friction is the force resisting motion between the elements making up a solid material while it undergoes deformation.When surfaces in contact move relative to each other, the friction between the two surfaces converts kinetic energy into thermal energy (that is, it converts work to heat). This property can have dramatic consequences, as illustrated by the use of friction created by rubbing pieces of wood together to start a fire. Kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy whenever motion with friction occurs, for example when a viscous fluid is stirred. Another important consequence of many types of friction can be wear, which may lead to performance degradation or damage to components. Friction is a component of the science of tribology.
Friction is desirable and important in supplying traction to facilitate motion on land. Most land vehicles rely on friction for acceleration, deceleration and changing direction. Sudden reductions in traction can cause loss of control and accidents.
Friction is not itself a fundamental force. Dry friction arises from a combination of inter-surface adhesion, surface roughness, surface deformation, and surface contamination. The complexity of these interactions makes the calculation of friction from first principles impractical and necessitates the use of empirical methods for analysis and the development of theory.
Friction is a non-conservative force – work done against friction is path dependent. In the presence of friction, some kinetic energy is always transformed to thermal energy, so mechanical energy is not conserved.

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  1. C

    Finding the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction

    Homework Statement A worker at a moving company places a 252kg trunk on a piece of carpeting and slides it across the floor at a constant velocity by exerting a horizontal force of 625 Newtons on the trunk. a) What is the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction? b) What happens to the...
  2. L

    Kinetic Friction and Newtons 2nd Law

    Homework Statement A car weighing 15000N experiences a drag force of 1200N. The car travels 30m/s on a level highway. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.2. If the car travels for 10s at this speed, calculate the power the engine produces. The car then goes up a 10 degree constant...
  3. B

    How Far Do Dishes Move During a Tablecloth Trick?

    Homework Statement A magician pulls a tablecloth from under some dishes, how far do the dishes move during the.25s it takes the table cloth out? Coefficient of kinetic friction=0.12 and time=.25s I can't find the solution to this prob. in fact I don't know where to start because I don't have...
  4. J

    Coefficient Of Kinetic Friction

    A hockey puck on a frozen pond is given an initial speed of 20.0 m/s. If the puck always remains on the ice and slides 115 min before coming to rest, determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the puck and ice. [v = u + a*t => 0 = 20 - a* 115*60 => a = 20/(115*60) v^2...
  5. J

    Help with homework (kinetic friction)

    Homework Statement A baseball player slides into 3rd base with an intitial speed of 3.6 m/sec. If coefficient of kinetic friction between the player and the ground is 0.41, how far does the player go before rest? Homework Equations Fx= -fk= ma fk= mu sub k *N The Attempt at a Solution
  6. J

    Coefficient of kinetic friction of a hockey puck

    A hockey puck on a frozen pond is given an initial speed of 20.0 m/s. If the puck always remains on the ice and slides 115 min before coming to rest, determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the puck and ice. ]
  7. J

    What Is the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction for a Sliding Car?

    On a level road with its brakes on, a car traveling at 98 km/hr stops within 91 m when the brakes lock and the car slides. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and the pavement? how would you solve this problem?
  8. S

    Calculating Force at an angle with kinetic friction coefficient

    Homework Statement A force, F, applied to a 12.1 kg crate at an angle (theta) of 41.0 degrees makes the crate move horizontally with a constant acceleration of 1.85 m/s^2. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the surface is uk=0.35. Calculate the magnitude of F...
  9. N

    Kinetic Friction of hockey puck

    Homework Statement In attempting to pass the puck to a teammate, a hockey player gives it an initial speed of 1.71 m/s. However, this speed is inadequate to compensate for the kinetic friction that exists between the puck and the ice. As a result, the puck travels only one-half the distance...
  10. C

    Coeffiecent of Kinetic Friction Problem

    1. A car is traveling at 15 meters/second on a horizontal road. The brakes are applied and the car sids to a stop in 4 seconds. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and the road is 2. Coefficient of kinetic friction = friction / Normal Force 3. Time to stop /...
  11. H

    Work: Kinetic Friction + Applied Resultant Force

    Homework Statement The coefficient of kinetic friction between a 20kg box and the floor is 0.40 -> How much work does a pulling force applied 37 degrees above the horizontal do on the box in pulling it 8.0m across the floor at constant speed Homework Equations F(kinetic)= F(normal) x...
  12. T

    Kinetic friction, tension, multiple masses

    Got a classic textbook physics problem here. Pretty sure I got it, but again, just wanting a "yay" or "nay" regarding if I'm doing it correctly. And there's one little thing I'm not exactly sure of. Homework Statement http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2345/picture3pft.png Two blocks, A and...
  13. A

    Applied Force ,Kinetic Friction, Static Friction involving two stacked masses

    Homework Statement A block of mass m1 = 2.0 kg is stacked on top of a block of mass m2 = 3.0 kg which is resting on top of a table Both blocks and the table are made of the same material; so the coefficients of friction between all surfaces are the same They are (attempt at a mew) ms = .60...
  14. X

    Coefficient of kinetic friction of car collision

    Two cars collide causing them to skid 17m at an angle of 30degrees north east before stopping. One car is 1180kg and the other is 1000kg. The coefficient of kinetic friction for a rubber tire slidin on pavement is 0.80 How would I determine the 1000kg cars' speed before the collision? My...
  15. Y

    Calculating Mass from Applied Force and Coefficient of Kinetic Friction

    Homework Statement A crate on a floor has an applied force (12 degrees below horizontal) of 524N. The crate moves with constant velocity. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.15. What is the mass of the crate? Homework Equations Fk=uk*Fn, Fn= m * g The Attempt at a Solution...
  16. M

    Static & kinetic friction could cause motion?

    Static & kinetic friction could cause motion?? Homework Statement I have a question about friction. I was asked to discuss an example where static friction and kinetic friction could cause motion. One example for each. I have never learned friction causing motion and I thought of it but...
  17. P

    Coefficient of kinetic friction HELP

    [b]1. 24kg crate initially at rest with a horizontal force of 53 N, find coefficient of kinetic friction [b]2.\mu=Fk/Fn [b]3. i have no idea
  18. O

    Find coefficient of kinetic friction using energy conservation

    Homework Statement An object of mass 0.2 kg with initial velocity 4.8 m/s slides a horizontal distance of 3.0 m before coming to rest (final velocity is 0 m/s). What is the coefficient of kinetic friction on the surface? Homework Equations K + U - W(other) = 0 ...conservation of energy...
  19. F

    Solving Kinetic Friction PB: How Many Times Does Block Cross Rough Section?

    Homework Statement A block of mass m is initially held in place on the left side of a track at a distance h above the bottom of the track. The track is completely frictionless, with the exception of a rough horizontal section of track of length h which has a coefficient of kinetic friction μ...
  20. L

    Coefficient of Kinetic Friction, Normal Force.

    Homework Statement "A box initially moving at 3.00m/s on a rough, level floor comes to a stop after sliding 6.00m. Find the coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and the floor."Homework Equations Fk=\mukFN V2-V02 / 2x = aThe Attempt at a Solution The first thing I did was write down...
  21. N

    Forces on an inclined plane, kinetic friction How is this wrong?

    Homework Statement In the figure below, m1 = 3.8 kg, m2 = 5.5 kg, and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the inclined plane and the 3.8-kg block is μk = 0.26. Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the masses and the tension in the cord...
  22. I

    How Is Initial Velocity Calculated in Kinetic Friction Problems?

    1. A skier slides horizontally along the snow for a distance of 29 m before coming to rest. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the skier and the snow is µk = 0.010. Initially, how fast was the skier going? 2. f kinetic = Coeff. of friction * Normal Force Work Energy Theorem = (1/2...
  23. R

    Kinetic Friction toboggan Problem

    A rescue worker pulls an injured skier lying on a toboggan (with a combined mass of 127 kg) across flat snow at a constant speed. A 2.43 m rope is attached to the toboggan at ground level, and the rescuer holds the rope taut at shoulder level. If the rescuer's shoulders are 1.65 m above the...
  24. K

    What Are the Frictional Forces in a Modified Atwood's Machine Experiment?

    Hey guys, I am having a little brain fart here, any help? Easy stuff Im trying to find the static and kinetic friction of an object on a certain surface. We used a modified atwood's machine and got the following results: Static mass required: 360g Kinetic mass required: 250g The mass...
  25. P

    What is the work done by kinetic friction on a block sliding down a ramp?

    Homework Statement A 25.0 kg block slides down a 5.00 m ramp that is elevated at 36.0 degrees. The kinetic friction coeff. is 0.220. -What is the work done by friction as the block slides down the ramp? Ok, so as far as I know, work is achieved only if you apply a force on something and...
  26. S

    Coefficent of kinetic friction

    Homework Statement A train, of mass m, comes into a station traveling slightly too fast to stop in time before it hits the buffers at the end of the track. The buffers are effectively metal plates attached to a spring which obeys Hooke's law with a spring constant k. The trains wheels lock and...
  27. P

    Find coefficient of kinetic friction?

    Homework Statement 60kg block slides along the top of 100kg block. 60kg block has an acceleration = 3.0m/s^2 while a horizontal force of 320N is applied to it. There is no friction between the 100kg block and the frictionless surface but there is friction between the two block. Find the...
  28. S

    How to Find the Kinetic Friction Force and Coefficient?

    Homework Statement find the Kinetic Friction force in N and the μk Acceleration-.0145 mass .1342kg i need to solve many so can you solve this and show the formula
  29. D

    Will the Block Move? Understanding Static and Kinetic Friction

    Homework Statement A block whose weight is 45.0N rests on a horizontal table. A horizontal for of 36.0N is applied to the block. The coefficients of static and kinetic friction are 0.650 and 0.420, respectively. Will the block move under the influence of the force, and, if so, what will be the...
  30. S

    If Kinetic friction is a constant can I accelerate forever?

    If a limiting friction of an object is 10N and the kinetic friction is 5 N. If I apply a force of 20 N continuosly would I be accelerating with a 5 N force forever.
  31. F

    Kinetic friction in terms of velocity

    Homework Statement A 1150 kg boat is traveling at 100 km/h when its engine is shut off. The magnitude of the frictional force k between boat and water is proportional to the speed v of the boat: f_k = 73v, where v is in meters per second and f_k is in Newtons. Find the time required for the...
  32. F

    Coefficient of kinetic friction between table and floor

    Homework Statement When the three blocks in Fig. 6-33 are released from rest, they accelerate with a magnitude of 0.800 m/s^2. Block 1 has mass M, block 2 has 2M, and block 3 has 2M. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between block 2 and the table...
  33. I

    Acceleration given kinetic friction

    [b]1. A crate is sliding down a ramp that is inclined at an angle of 51.1° above the horizontal. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the ramp surface is 1.171. Find the acceleration of the moving crate. [b]2. Fnet = mass of object x acceleration [b]3. Sine I don't...
  34. F

    Coefficient of static & kinetic friction

    Homework Statement If the force needed to start the motion of an object having a mass of 2.5 kg is 4.90 N, what is the coefficient of static friction? Homework Equations f = uN Since u is missing, the formula is u = f/N The Attempt at a Solution u = 4.90 N/(2.5 kg X 9.8 m/s2) u = 4.90...
  35. M

    Solving the Kinetic Friction and Tension of Two Blocks

    Homework Statement Block A (M1-5 kg) is on a horizontal surface and block B (M2-2 kg)to the left resting on a 30 degree incline. the two are connected to each other by a mass-less rope over a massless pulley and are moving down hill (to the left) at constant velocity. a) Find the...
  36. J

    How Does Kinetic Friction Affect Acceleration and Speed of a Block?

    Homework Statement A 4.94 kg block located on a horizontal floor is pulled by a cord that exerts a force F = 12.1 N at an angle θ = 15.0° above the horizontal, as shown in the Figure. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the floor is 0.100. What is the speed of the...
  37. S

    Kinetic friction vs static friction?

    OK, so in my physics class we are doing friction. And the book states that static friction usually larger then kinetic. Then he posed a question to whether or not there might be some crazy scenario where the kinetic friction is larger than the static friction? Personally, I cannot think of...
  38. M

    Kinetic friction & static friction

    Homework Statement http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8174/p560.gif An aluminum block, m1 = 5.00 kg, and a copper block, m2 = 15.36 kg, are connected by a light string over a frictionless pulley. They sit on a steel surface as shown in the figure below, where θ = 30.0°. (See the table...
  39. R

    Kinetic friction along a curve (Basic Calculus Question)

    A mass m is traveling inside a horizontal circular tube of radius r, starting with an initial velocity v_0 There is friction between the outer wall of the tube and the mass (Friction between the floor and the mass is negligible) EDIT: What is the mass' velocity as a function of the distance...
  40. M

    Rotational motion begining with kinetic friction.

    Homework Statement A ball is suddenly kicked across a floor. It initial will have a linear velocity, but no initial angular velocity. The object will slide for a distance "d" until perfect rolling kicks in. all are in terms of variables and not specific numbers A.) derive an equation...
  41. O

    Solve Kinetic Friction Homework: Acceleration & Time Before Rock Goes Over Edge

    Homework Statement A 75 kg climber finds himself dangling over the edge of an ice cliff, as shown in the figure below. Fortunately, he's roped to a 980 kg rock located 51 m from the edge of the cliff. Assume that the coefficient of kinetic friction between rock and ice is 5.5×10−2. What is...
  42. O

    Kinetic Friction of moving car hitting a stationary car

    Homework Statement A police officer investigating an accident estimates from the damage done that a moving car hit a stationary car at 24 km/h. If the moving car left skid marks 47 m long, and if the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.68, what was the initial speed of the moving car? (The...
  43. M

    Kinetic Friction of ride down a ramp

    Homework Statement A 28.0 kg seal at an amusement park slides down a ramp into the pool below. The top of the ramp is 1.80 m higher than the surface of the water and the ramp is inclined at an angle of 30.0° above the horizontal. The seal reaches the water with a speed of 4.90 m/s. What...
  44. P

    Calculating Fpush for Kinetic Friction | Coefficient of Friction Explained

    A sufficiently large push is given to start the block moving. After that, what magnitude Fpush must be applied to make the block accelerate to the right at 5.71 m/s2 From a previous problem we concluded that coefficient of kinetic friction is .34 and static is .43 I do not understand how...
  45. T

    Maximal theta given the coefficient of kinetic friction

    Homework Statement While moving in, a new homeowner is pushing a box across the floor at a constant velocity. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and the floor is 0.410. The pushing force is directed downward at an angle theta below the horizontal. When theta is greater than...
  46. I

    Kinetic Friction Coefficient Problem

    Homework Statement A block is at rest on a plank whose angle can be varied. The angle is gradually increased from 0 deg. At 26.5°, the block starts to slide down the incline, traveling 3.10 m down the incline in 2.00 s. Calculate the kinetic coefficent of friction between the block and the...
  47. E

    Kinetic Friction Experiment Conservation of Energy Question

    I am currently working on an experiment to find the kinetic friction in a driveline. The experiment uses the principle of conservation of energy and is based on the following experiment: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/Class/PhSciLab/frictionex.html The difference in my proposed...
  48. B

    What Is the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction Between the Box and the Dirt?

    coefficient of kinetic friction URGENT PLS. HELP! Homework Statement A box of mass 35 kg is sliding down a patch of frictionless snow inclined at 25deg to the horizontal with a speed of 6.0m/s when its a bare patch of dirt that's 1.50 m across.If the box's speed is reduced by 0.5m/s by the...
  49. K

    Finding the force of friction acting on an object - static or kinetic friction?

    Homework Statement "A force of 300N is applied to a 70kg carton on a level floor at an angle of 15deg below the horizontal. The coefficient of static friction is 0.4 and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.28. Find the friction force acting on the carton." I don't know which...
  50. C

    Kinetic Friction + Acceleration

    Homework Statement In the connected crate system the coefficients of dynamic friction between the 40 kg crate and the slope is \mud=0.2. There is no friction in the pulley and it can be shown that sliding occurs. Determine the acceleration of the crates Homework Equations F = MA Ff = \mud...
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