What is the difference between static and kinetic friction forces?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To understand the difference between static and kinetic friction, we examine what each type responds to in real motion scenarios.
Option a: 'Static friction acts when the object is moving vertically, kinetic friction acts when the object is moving horizontally.' This mixes directions with friction type; friction is not defined by vertical vs horizontal motion, but by whether the contact is stationary or sliding.
Option b: 'Static friction acts when the object is at rest, kinetic friction acts when the object is moving.' This aligns with the standard definitions: static friction prevents motion up to a maximum value when there is no relative motion at the contact, while kinetic (sliding) friction acts when there is ongoing relative motion between surfaces.
Option c: 'Static friction acts when the speed is constant, kinetic friction acts when the object is speeding.' Speed being constant does not distinguish static friction; even with constant speed, the contact could be at rest or sliding relative to the surface, so this phrasing is misleading and incorrect.
Option d: 'Static friction acts when the object is moving, kinetic friction acts when the object is at rest.' This reverses the actual roles: static friction resists the onset of motion (when at rest relative to the surface), whereas kinetic friction acts during ongoing motion, not at rest.
In sum, the core distinction revolves around whether the contact points are stationary relative to each other (static) or in continuous sliding (kinetic). The options attempt to assign friction types to various motion scenarios, but only one captures the conventional definitions accurately, while the others mix up the conditions or introduce irrelevant criteria such as direction or speed constantness.

UCIC 202503 PHYS101 Quiz 2

What is the difference between static and kinetic friction forces?

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