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Physics
Classical Physics
Mechanics
Kinetic friction direction on two stacked blocks
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[QUOTE="SakuRERE, post: 6067529, member: 651815"] If i have two blocks on top of each other and there is friction between the two blocks and it's a kinetic friction ( given μk). if i was given the force applied on the lower block to the right direction for example. ignoring the friction between the lower block and the ground, i tried to draw the Free body diagram for both blocks and i got somehow confused with choosing the right direction of the Fk (Kinetic friction) for the upper block. this is how I thought about it: first, I know that the friction basically is opposite to the direction of movement. so since the upper block will move to the left (with respect to lower block) that the kinetic friction will be directed to the right. but i thought this one is not right because what force other than fk will make the block move to left ( i should have a force to the left so it moves to left) so I came to say it should be to the left. but then how come the friction be parallel to the direction of motion when it should be opposite? so I concluded that what happens actually and realistically is that the upper block will move to the right and the force responsible of this is the kinetic friction itself, but if we see it with respect to lower block so it is moving to left and friction is opposite so it's to right! does that mean that friction is defined opposite to the motion with respect to the lower block only! i am confused and can't decide the right way to think about it [/QUOTE]
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Physics
Classical Physics
Mechanics
Kinetic friction direction on two stacked blocks
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