Friction Quiz
The question sheet
Reveal any answer as you study-
What does friction always do to relative motion between surfaces in contact?
- Has no effect on it
- Opposes it
- Increases it
- Reverses it
Reveal answer
Answer: Opposes it
Source evidence
PDF page 227: Friction is a force that opposes relative motion between surfaces in contact.
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Friction between two surfaces that are moving relative to one another is called what?
- Kinetic friction
- Normal friction
- Static friction
- Adhesive friction
Reveal answer
Answer: Kinetic friction
Source evidence
PDF page 227: If two surfaces are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction.
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According to the source, how does static friction generally compare to kinetic friction?
- It is usually greater
- It is always zero
- It is always equal
- It is usually less
Reveal answer
Answer: It is usually greater
Source evidence
PDF page 227: One of the simpler characteristics of friction is that it is parallel to the contact surface between surfaces and always in a direction that opposes motion or attempted motion of the systems relative to each other. If two surfaces are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction. For example, friction slows a hockey puck sliding on ice. But when objects are stationary, static friction can act between them; the static friction is usually greater than the kinetic friction between the surfaces.
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In what direction does friction act relative to the contact surface?
- Parallel to the surface
- At 45 degrees to the surface
- Perpendicular to the surface
- In a random direction
Reveal answer
Answer: Parallel to the surface
Source evidence
PDF page 227: One of the simpler characteristics of friction is that it is parallel to the contact surface between surfaces and always in a direction that opposes motion or attempted motion of the systems relative to each other. If two surfaces are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction. For example, friction slows a hockey puck sliding on ice. But when objects are stationary, static friction can act between them; the static friction is usually greater than the kinetic friction between the surfaces.
PDF page 229: The equations given earlier include the dependence of friction on materials and the normal force. The direction of friction is always opposite that of motion, parallel to the surface between objects, and perpendicular to the normal force. For example, if the crate you try to push (with a force parallel to the floor) has a mass of 100 kg, then the normal force would be equal to its weight, , perpendicular to the floor. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.45, you would have to exert a force parallel to the floor greater than to move the crate. Once there is motion, friction is less and the coefficient of kinetic friction might be 0.30, so that a force of only 290 N ( ) would keep it moving at a constant speed. If the floor is lubricated, both coefficients are considerably less than they would be without lubrication. Coefficient of friction is a unit less quantity with a magnitude usually between 0 and 1.0. The coefficient of the friction depends on the two surfaces that are in contact.
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When pushing a stationary crate, static friction responds by doing what?
- Increasing equal and opposite to push
- Acting in the same direction as push
- Staying constant regardless of push
- Decreasing as you push
Reveal answer
Answer: Increasing equal and opposite to push
Source evidence
PDF page 227: Imagine, for example, trying to slide a heavy crate across a concrete floor—you may push harder and harder on the crate and not move it at all. This means that the static friction responds to what you do—it increases to be equal to and in the opposite direction of your push. But if you finally push hard enough, the crate seems to slip suddenly and starts to move. Once in motion it is easier to keep it in motion than it was to get it started, indicating that the kinetic friction force is less than the static friction force. If you add mass to the crate, say by placing a box on top of it, you need to push even harder to get it started and also to keep it moving. Furthermore, if you oiled the concrete you would find it to be easier to get the crate started and keep it going (as you might expect).
PDF page 228: The symbol means less than or equal to, implying that static friction can have a minimum and a maximum value of . Static friction is a responsive force that increases to be equal and opposite to whatever force is exerted, up to its maximum limit. Once the applied force exceeds , the object will move. Thus 5.3 Once an object is moving, the magnitude of kinetic friction is given by 5.4 where is the coefficient of kinetic friction. A system in which is described as a system in which friction behaves simply.
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According to the source, once a crate is in motion, keeping it moving is what?
- Exactly as hard as starting it
- Easier than starting it
- Harder than starting it
- Impossible
Reveal answer
Answer: Easier than starting it
Source evidence
PDF page 227: Imagine, for example, trying to slide a heavy crate across a concrete floor—you may push harder and harder on the crate and not move it at all. This means that the static friction responds to what you do—it increases to be equal to and in the opposite direction of your push. But if you finally push hard enough, the crate seems to slip suddenly and starts to move. Once in motion it is easier to keep it in motion than it was to get it started, indicating that the kinetic friction force is less than the static friction force. If you add mass to the crate, say by placing a box on top of it, you need to push even harder to get it started and also to keep it moving. Furthermore, if you oiled the concrete you would find it to be easier to get the crate started and keep it going (as you might expect).
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Adding mass to a crate has what effect on the force needed to move it?
- Eliminates friction
- Has no effect
- Requires more force
- Requires less force
Reveal answer
Answer: Requires more force
Source evidence
PDF page 227: Imagine, for example, trying to slide a heavy crate across a concrete floor—you may push harder and harder on the crate and not move it at all. This means that the static friction responds to what you do—it increases to be equal to and in the opposite direction of your push. But if you finally push hard enough, the crate seems to slip suddenly and starts to move. Once in motion it is easier to keep it in motion than it was to get it started, indicating that the kinetic friction force is less than the static friction force. If you add mass to the crate, say by placing a box on top of it, you need to push even harder to get it started and also to keep it moving. Furthermore, if you oiled the concrete you would find it to be easier to get the crate started and keep it going (as you might expect).
PDF page 227: inspection of these surfaces shows them to be rough. So when you push to get an object moving (in this case, a crate), you must raise the object until it can skip along with just the tips of the surface hitting, break off the points, or do both. A considerable force can be resisted by friction with no apparent motion. The harder the surfaces are pushed together (such as if another box is placed on the crate), the more force is needed to move them. Part of the friction is due to adhesive forces between the surface molecules of the two objects, which explain the dependence of friction on the nature of the substances. Adhesion varies with substances in contact and is a complicated aspect of surface physics. Once an object is moving, there are fewer points of contact (fewer molecules adhering), so less force is required to keep the object moving. At small but nonzero speeds, friction is nearly independent of speed.
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Besides surface roughness, much of friction is due to what?
- Attractive forces between molecules
- Static electricity
- Air pressure
- Gravity between objects
Reveal answer
Answer: Attractive forces between molecules
Source evidence
PDF page 227: because of the roughness of the surfaces in contact, as seen in the expanded view. In order for the object to move, it must rise to where the peaks can skip along the bottom surface. Thus a force is required just to set the object in motion. Some of the peaks will be broken off, also requiring a force to maintain motion. Much of the friction is actually due to attractive forces between molecules making up the two objects, so that even perfectly smooth surfaces are not friction-free. Such adhesive forces also depend on the substances the surfaces are made of, explaining, for example, why rubber-soled shoes slip less than those with leather soles. The magnitude of the frictional force has two forms: one for static situations (static friction), the other for when there is motion (kinetic friction). When there is no motion between the objects, the magnitude of static friction is 5.1
PDF page 227: inspection of these surfaces shows them to be rough. So when you push to get an object moving (in this case, a crate), you must raise the object until it can skip along with just the tips of the surface hitting, break off the points, or do both. A considerable force can be resisted by friction with no apparent motion. The harder the surfaces are pushed together (such as if another box is placed on the crate), the more force is needed to move them. Part of the friction is due to adhesive forces between the surface molecules of the two objects, which explain the dependence of friction on the nature of the substances. Adhesion varies with substances in contact and is a complicated aspect of surface physics. Once an object is moving, there are fewer points of contact (fewer molecules adhering), so less force is required to keep the object moving. At small but nonzero speeds, friction is nearly independent of speed.
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Why do rubber-soled shoes slip less than leather soles?
- Leather has more molecules
- Adhesive forces depend on substances
- Rubber is heavier
- Rubber has no roughness
Reveal answer
Answer: Adhesive forces depend on substances
Source evidence
PDF page 227: because of the roughness of the surfaces in contact, as seen in the expanded view. In order for the object to move, it must rise to where the peaks can skip along the bottom surface. Thus a force is required just to set the object in motion. Some of the peaks will be broken off, also requiring a force to maintain motion. Much of the friction is actually due to attractive forces between molecules making up the two objects, so that even perfectly smooth surfaces are not friction-free. Such adhesive forces also depend on the substances the surfaces are made of, explaining, for example, why rubber-soled shoes slip less than those with leather soles. The magnitude of the frictional force has two forms: one for static situations (static friction), the other for when there is motion (kinetic friction). When there is no motion between the objects, the magnitude of static friction is 5.1
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At small but nonzero speeds, friction is nearly what?
- Zero
- Proportional to speed
- Independent of speed
- Doubling with speed
Reveal answer
Answer: Independent of speed
Source evidence
PDF page 227: inspection of these surfaces shows them to be rough. So when you push to get an object moving (in this case, a crate), you must raise the object until it can skip along with just the tips of the surface hitting, break off the points, or do both. A considerable force can be resisted by friction with no apparent motion. The harder the surfaces are pushed together (such as if another box is placed on the crate), the more force is needed to move them. Part of the friction is due to adhesive forces between the surface molecules of the two objects, which explain the dependence of friction on the nature of the substances. Adhesion varies with substances in contact and is a complicated aspect of surface physics. Once an object is moving, there are fewer points of contact (fewer molecules adhering), so less force is required to keep the object moving. At small but nonzero speeds, friction is nearly independent of speed.
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According to Table 5.1, the coefficient of static friction for rubber on dry concrete is what?
- 0.05
- 0.7
- 1.0
- 0.5
Reveal answer
Answer: 1.0
Source evidence
PDF page 228: Rubber on dry concrete 1.0 0.7
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According to Table 5.1, the kinetic friction coefficient for steel on steel (oiled) is what?
- 0.6
- 0.3
- 0.05
- 0.03
Reveal answer
Answer: 0.03
Source evidence
PDF page 228: Steel on steel (oiled) 0.05 0.03
AP College Physics
AP College Physics by OpenStax, used under CC BY 4.0. Changes made by Stratacademy.
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