Coulomb's Third Law of Friction

In summary, Coulomb's Third Law of Friction states that the force of friction is directly proportional to the normal force and coefficient of friction between two surfaces. This differs from Newton's Third Law, which relates to overall forces between objects. The coefficient of friction is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of the force of friction to the normal force. The normal force affects the force of friction, with an increase in normal force resulting in an increase in frictional force. While Coulomb's Third Law of Friction can be applied to most surfaces, it is most accurate for dry, solid surfaces in static or kinetic friction and may not hold true for surfaces with complex textures or in extreme conditions.
  • #1
Cromptu
33
0
According to Coulomb's third law of friction, the sliding friction if independent of the sliding speed.
But if the sliding speed is very slow, wouldn't the sliding friction be more? The object's surface will get more time to interact with the surface of the floor and static friction can develop, since the surfaces will become interlocked because they will have more time.
Thanks! :)
 
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  • #2
Coulomb's third law of friction is an approximation, useful in some velocity range for some types of friction. If the movement is too slow or too fast, the law is not valid any more.
 

What is Coulomb's Third Law of Friction?

Coulomb's Third Law of Friction states that the force of friction between two surfaces is directly proportional to the normal force between them and the coefficient of friction.

How does Coulomb's Third Law of Friction differ from Newton's Third Law?

Coulomb's Third Law of Friction relates specifically to the force of friction between surfaces, while Newton's Third Law relates to the overall forces between two objects.

What is the coefficient of friction?

The coefficient of friction is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of the force of friction between two surfaces to the normal force between them. It is a constant value that depends on the nature of the surfaces in contact.

How does the normal force affect the force of friction?

The force of friction is directly proportional to the normal force, meaning that as the normal force increases, so does the force of friction. This is because the normal force is what pushes the surfaces together, creating more contact and thus increasing the frictional force.

Can Coulomb's Third Law of Friction be applied to all surfaces?

Coulomb's Third Law of Friction can be applied to most surfaces, but it is generally only accurate for dry, solid surfaces in static or kinetic friction. It may not hold true for surfaces with complex textures or in situations with high speeds or extreme pressures.

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