Coefficient of friction (static and kinetic)

In summary, the coefficient of static friction can be calculated by dividing the applied force (65 N) by the product of the mass (20.7 kg) and gravitational field (9.8 m/s^2). The coefficient of kinetic friction can be found by dividing the applied force (60 N) by the weight of the object (20.7 kg multiplied by 9.8 m/s^2). The relationship between the coefficient of friction and normal force is that the coefficient of friction is directly proportional to the normal force, meaning that the greater the normal force, the greater the coefficient of friction.
  • #1
HALPiEExx3
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You pull your 20 kg little brother horizontally across a beack on a .7 kg innertube at 65 N to get the tube moving. What is the coefficient of static friction between the sand and the tube? You keep pulling at 60 N with the innertube at a constant velocity. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction?

I'm totally stuck. Please please please help me!
 
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  • #2
What is the relationship of the coefficient of friction and normal force?

Objects with mass have an associated weight in a gravitational field.
 
  • #3
"You pull your 20 kg little brother horizontally across a beack on a .7 kg innertube at 65 N to get the tube moving. What is the coefficient of static friction between the sand and the tube? You keep pulling at 60 N with the innertube at a constant velocity. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction?

I'm totally stuck. Please please please help me! "

OK, first step is to go back to the definition: The static friction is the force that must be applied before the object will move. You have the force in the problem already, and you have the mass that you are trying to move (20.7 kg). Solving for the coefficient of static friction a straightforward plugging in the numbers.

Now for the second piece, you know the force necessary to keep the tube moving at constant velocity (60N). The key is constant velocity, this means the force to pull is equal to the force of friction (no acceleration). Again, plug in your numbers from the problem and you should get your result.
 

Related to Coefficient of friction (static and kinetic)

What is the coefficient of friction?

The coefficient of friction is a measure of the amount of resistance between two surfaces in contact with each other. It indicates how difficult it is to move one surface over the other.

What is static friction?

Static friction is the force that must be overcome to set an object in motion when there is no relative motion between the two surfaces. It is the maximum amount of friction that exists between two surfaces.

What is kinetic friction?

Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object when it is already in motion. It is usually less than static friction and is dependent on the speed of the object.

How is the coefficient of friction determined?

The coefficient of friction is determined by dividing the force required to move an object over a surface by the weight of the object. This can be done by using an incline plane and varying the angle until the object begins to move.

What factors affect the coefficient of friction?

The coefficient of friction can be affected by a variety of factors, including the nature of the surfaces in contact, the roughness of the surfaces, the amount of force applied, and the presence of any lubricants or contaminants. Temperature and humidity can also play a role in the coefficient of friction.

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