Friction in the Direction of Motion

AI Thread Summary
Friction typically opposes the direction of motion, acting to resist slipping between surfaces. However, in specific scenarios, such as a box on a moving conveyor belt, friction can act in the same direction as the motion to prevent the box from slipping off. This illustrates that while friction generally opposes motion, it can also facilitate movement in certain contexts. Understanding the role of friction is essential in analyzing motion dynamics. Therefore, while friction predominantly opposes motion, it can align with it under specific conditions.
chrisdapos
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Homework Statement


Is it possible for friction to act in the same direction as the motion of an object? If so, are there any real world examples? Thank you!


The Attempt at a Solution


I don't know where to start...
 
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I don't think there is...at least to my knowledge...friction always opposes motion...
 
Place a box on a moving conveyor belt. What happens?

(A better way to describe friction is to say that it always opposes slipping between surfaces.)
 

Thread 'Rolling without slipping on a curved surface'

Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
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Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
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