The discussion revolves around calculating the force of friction acting on a wooden crate being dragged at a constant speed. Since the crate is moving at a constant velocity, the net force is zero, indicating that the force of friction must equal the applied force of 85 N. Participants clarify that if the force of friction were equal to the pulling force, the crate would not be able to move. Additionally, there is a mention of a separate scenario involving a painter pulling himself on a platform, which requires drawing a free body diagram and calculating forces. The key takeaway is that the force of friction in the crate scenario is indeed 85 N, balancing the applied force.
