The effect of mass/surface area on coefficient of kinetic friction

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SUMMARY

The coefficient of kinetic friction is independent of surface area and mass, as confirmed by discussions referencing fundamental physics principles. The frictional force is directly proportional to the normal force, which is typically the weight of the object on the surface. This relationship establishes that while the coefficient of friction remains constant, the frictional force varies with mass. For a deeper understanding, the MIT Lecture on Physics provides comprehensive insights into these concepts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly forces and motion.
  • Familiarity with the definition and calculation of the coefficient of friction.
  • Knowledge of normal force and its relationship to weight.
  • Access to educational resources, such as MIT OpenCourseWare, for further learning.
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the MIT Lecture on Physics regarding friction and normal force.
  • Study the mathematical derivation of the coefficient of friction.
  • Explore real-world applications of friction in engineering and design.
  • Investigate the differences between static and kinetic friction coefficients.
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching mechanics, and engineers interested in the principles of friction and its applications in various fields.

furtivefelon
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hi, does anyone know where i can find info on the effects of surface area/mass on coefficient of kinetic friction? thanks a lot!
 
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The coefficient of friction does not depend on the surface area. The frictional force is proportional to the normal force acting on the surface (which is oftentimes just the weight of an object on a surface) with the coefficient of friction being the proportionality factor.
 
This MIT Lecture, explained the concepts of friction very well...
maybe take some time and have a look...

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/8-01Physics-IFall1999/VideoLectures/detail/Video-Segment-Index-for-L-8.htm

the static friction co-efficient is determined by the tangent of the angle in which the object starts to fall and it is independent of mass, surface area, etc.

so - the coefficient is independent but not the force as it is proportional to the Normal force which is proportional to the mass.
 
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