What is the relationship between force and surface area when pushing a crate?

[Kdawg]

You are pushing a wooden crate across the floor at constant speed.You decide to turn the crate on end, reducing by half the surface area in contact with the floor. In the new orientation, to push the same crate across the same floor with the same speed, the force that you apply must be what compared to the original force?

 

[Kdawg]

This can't be that hard

 

[gschjetne]

Depending on your level, force of friction is using a simple model calculated by the following:
<br /> F_\textrm{friction} = \mu_k F_\textrm{normal}<br />
Keep in mind this isn't a fundamental law, it's an experimental relation between the magnitude of the friction force and the magnitude of the normal force.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Remember that the friction force is proportional to the weight of the object, not the area of contact!