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.)
 

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I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
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Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

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Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
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