What is Kinetic friction: Definition and 509 Discussions

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. A

    Help understanding answers: kinetic friction

    https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t35.0-12/14796269_10210868496286479_1115393743_o.jpg?oh=0ccd692c60a1d0bab84d5fbaf7e6197b&oe=580A1894 In the figure, a 6-kg box is sliding up an incline that makes an angle of theta=30 degree (with respect to the horizontal). As it slides up the incline, a...
  2. JustynSC

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  3. Eclair_de_XII

    Finding coefficient of kinetic friction from thermal energy?

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  4. terryds

    Static friction vs kinetic friction in Tablecloth trick

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  5. P

    Kinetic friction in an N,T- system only works in tangential?

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  6. BlueQuark

    How can kinetic friction force be constant if....?

    As we all know, for the most part, the kinetic friction force is, for the most part, constant. After moving my cup across my table, this thought crossed my mind. If I move my cup across the table with a constant speed, then the force I'm applying must be equal to the kinetic friction force...
  7. defaultusername

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  8. Surya97

    How does anything slow down if kinetic friction is low?

    Lets say that there is a rectangular box on a horizontal surface, with no air resistance on it. If the applied force required to get the object moving is greater than the static friction, Fa>Us* Fn, then the object starts moving. However, the Static Friction is almost always greater than the...
  9. diazdaiz

    Kinetic friction and applied force

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  10. B

    Kinetic Friction and Incline for a Car

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  11. R

    Question about coefficient of kinetic friction and distance

    1. Homework Statement m = 4.00 kg theta = 30 v = 1 m/s compression of the spring by the block , x = 0.3 m d = 5 m Homework Equations rule : Fk = μ k * N i must find Fk first to find μ k using conservation energy, [/B] The Attempt at a Solution First find N, N = m x g x cos theta N = 4 *...
  12. F

    Calculate acceleration and kinetic friction coefficient

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  13. B

    Calculate the coefficient of static & kinetic friction

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  14. StonedPhysicist

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  15. P

    Rolling Fricition, Kinetic Friction

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  16. K

    How Much Force to Slide a Crate with Friction?

    Homework Statement A 15kg crate slides across the floor. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the floor is 0.28. How much horizontal force is needed to accelerate the crate at 3.0 m/s/s? Homework Equations F=ma? The Attempt at a Solution F=? m= 15 kg u= 0.28 a= 3.0...
  17. S

    Find the kinetic friction of an object at an angle

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  18. J

    Direction of Kinetic Friction and Static Friction

    Can someone please explain me the direction of static friction? I know kinetic friction is always going against the motion of an object but for static friction it depends.
  19. L

    Finding the Force for Constant Velocity with Kinetic Friction

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  20. Sace Ver

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  21. N

    Solving for Skid: Exploring Kinetic Friction on a Circular Track

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  22. B

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  23. TheNeezoMan

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    Homework Statement A heavy sled is being pulled by two people as shown in the figure. The coefficient of static friction between the sled and the ground is μs = 0.579, and the kinetic friction coefficient is μk = 0.435. The combined mass of the sled and its load is m = 336 kg. The ropes are...
  24. D

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  25. Jonski

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  26. D

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  27. kostoglotov

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  28. TyroneTheDino

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  29. R

    Kinetic friction on smooth then rough surface

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  30. M

    How to find the force of friction?

    Homework Statement What is the force of friction on the elastic powered car as it rolls across a smooth surface? GIVENS Displacement= 16.25m, Change in time= 22.5s, G=9.8m/s, Mass= 1kg UNKNOWNS V1=?, A=? Ff=? Homework Equations F=MA, A=V/T, Change displacement=((V1+V2)/2)T) The Attempt at a...
  31. T

    How Does Doubling the Force Affect Kinetic Friction Between Two Blocks?

    Homework Statement Block M1 is on top of block M2 which is on top of a horizontal frictionless surface. A horizontal force, F, is applied to M1. The coefficient of static friction is us and the coefficient of kinetic friction isuk. Find, a) the maximum force that can be applied to M1, such...
  32. K

    Help me understand static and kinetic friction please

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  33. SpacemanRich

    Newtons' Second Law with Kinetic Friction Problem

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  34. rcgldr

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  35. G

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    Homework Statement The total force needed to drag a box at constant speed across a surface with coefficient of kinetic friction Uk is least when the force is applied at an angle theta such that a.sin(theta) = Uk. b.cos(theta) = Uk. c.tan(theta) = Uk. d.cot(theta) = Uk. e.sec(theta) = Uk...
  36. C

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    Homework Statement A 2.0 kg block of wood slides over a horizontal surface and comes to rest in 2.5 s. If its initial velocity was 9.0 m/s, what is the coefficient of kinetic friction? Homework Equations rho=mv change in rho=F*change in t Force of friction = mu*Force normal Force normal=mg...
  37. G

    Finding the kinetic friction between the block and surface

    Homework Statement [/B] The block shown is pulled across the horizontal surface at a constant speed by the force shown. If M = 5.0 kg, F = 14 N and Theta= 35°, what is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the horizontal surface? Homework Equations Fx = Fcos(theta) Ff = Fn...
  38. P

    Calculating the coefficient of kinetic friction

    Homework Statement Problem: A 10 kg box slides down a hill and has a constant velocity. The angle of the hill is 10° with respect to the horizontal. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the surface of the hill and the box? Homework Equations Fn = mg + ma ƒk = μk * Fn The Attempt...
  39. C

    How can i find the coefficient of kinetic friction?

    Homework Statement I know incline is 16 degrees I know distance traveled is 2.85 meters I know Vf is 2.71 meters/second I calculated the meu static and got .287 Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Tried every thing so lost
  40. H

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    An Object slides with a consistent velocity down an incline that has a 30 degree angle. I'm trying to find the kinetic friction and the ratio that the mechanical energy is lost on the way down. I think I have already calculated µ with F(friction)= µmgcos(θ)=mgsin(θ) out comes Tan(θ) = µ I...
  41. R

    Finding Coefficient of Kinetic Friction

    Homework Statement See, I was collecting data for a lab, and now when I look it at, I'm being asked to find the kinetic friction force and the coefficient of friction. What I was given was: the mass of the block: .261 kg gravity: 9.81 m/s2 the acceleration: -7.3125 m/s2 And that's it. If it...
  42. K

    What is the kinetic friction coefficient?

    Homework Statement A skier is sliding down a 20o slope at constant speed, what is the kinetic friction coefficient? Homework Equations E = 1/2 mv2 W = Fd F = ma F = μN = μmg The Attempt at a Solution Attempted to use ma = μmgsin20, which crosses out the masses since mass was not given, but...
  43. Y

    Physics Gravity Problem and Kinetic Friction

    Two astronauts are trying to figure out the mass of Mercury and the mass of Neptune. The astronauts decide to hit a 142 g ball with a bat on each planet and see how far it goes. They know the radius of mercury is 2,440 km and the radius of Neptune is 24,622 km. On mercury one astronaut hits the...
  44. Q

    Physics Problem with Spring Constant and Kinetic Friction

    Homework Statement A person attaches a spring to an cubic object that weighs 36kg and pulls this object along a table made of material X horizontally with a steady speed of 1.3m/s. The spring stretches a distance of 3.4cm. Find the ratio of the spring constant to the kinetic friction...
  45. D

    Coefficient of kinetic friction between a car and the road

    Homework Statement Just found this site ,looks really helpful , so i am doing some revision using past exam papers and have a few head scratches you guys maybe able to help with . A car of mass 1000 kg is traveling at a speed of 25 m/s when it applies its brakes suddenly. The car immediately...
  46. G

    Equate Kinetic Friction to Rotational Energy?

    Homework Statement So a car owner wants to change his current tires and rims to a wider set of tires and rims for increased handling ability. However, the owner does not want to lose any acceleration performance due to the increased friction of having wider tires. To combat this, the owner...
  47. P

    Tension problem, finding acceleration with kinetic friction

    Three blocks are connected as shown in the uploaded picture. The strings and friction-less pulleys have negligible masses, and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the 2.0 kg block and the table is 0.17. What is the acceleration of the 2.0 kg block? Homework Equations ∑F = ma The...
  48. R

    Finding Initial Speed given Kinetic Friction, Mass, and more

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  49. P

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  50. O

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