Friction; what does not contribute?

[jadiepants]

Homework Statement

What two things do not contribute to friction (i.e. what is friction not dependent upon)?

Homework Equations

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The Attempt at a Solution

After googling I have read that it is speed and surface area - but they had no explanations.
I don't understand how either of these would not contribute and I don't want to submit my assignment when I don't actually understand it.

 

[RoyalCat]

The formula that best approximates kinetic surface-to-surface friction is F_{friction}=\mu_k N where \mu is the coefficient of kinetic friction, and N is the magnitude of the normal force between the two surfaces.

 

[jadiepants]

That tells me what does contribute, but I need to know what does not contribute.

 

[Kommandant]

This is a very vague question though. Look, there are 2 or 3 types of friction which you might encounter in a basic physics class. The first type its called "Static Friction" and the second is called "Kinetic Friction."

In Static Friction the object is not yet moving and therefore it generates more friction.
This can be modeled through the equation:

\mu_static F_normal \geq F_Sfriction

In Kinetic Friction the object is already moving and therefore there is less friction.
This can be modeled through the equation:

\mu_kinetic F_normal \geq F_Kfriction

As you can see speed does matter if you are going from V₀= 0 m/s to V= nonzero value m/s

But once you start moving speed has nothing to do with the amount of friction

As for surface area... I am not quite sure, but the equations seem to demonstrate no relation between the two.

 

[jadiepants]

Thanks for that :) It is pretty vague, my friend suggested I put something silly like 'the colour of the object'

I will put down surface area and speed only when calculating kinetic friction.

 

[Kommandant]

Let me clarify the Static Friction and Kinetic Friction... Static Friction is the friction the object needs to overcome to start moving. Kinetic Friction is the friction the system or object encounters while moving.