If someone pushes on a box on a horizontal floor with a horizontal force of 17.8 N, but the box does not move, what is the static friction (Fs) between the box and the floor? Explain.
The next question is:
If the box just starts to move with a horizontal force of 29.5 N, what is the maximum static friction (Fs,max)?
I know these are solvable with the current information, but I feel like I'm missing something... I am quite lost. I am not sure what formula can solve these with the given info. Thanks!
In my textbook, it says Fs = -Fapplied
Does this mean Fs really just equals negative 17.8 N, for the first question?
To solve these problems, you need to understand the concept of static friction. Static friction is the force that prevents an object from moving when a force is applied to it. It acts in the opposite direction to the applied force and increases until it reaches its maximum value, known as the maximum static friction.
In the first question, if someone pushes on a box with a force of 17.8 N and the box does not move, it means that the static friction between the box and the floor is equal to the applied force. This can be written as:
Fs = 17.8 N
In the second question, if the box just starts to move with a horizontal force of 29.5 N, it means that the applied force is equal to the maximum static friction. This can be written as:
Fs,max = 29.5 N
To calculate the maximum static friction, you can use the formula:
Fs,max = μs * N
where μs is the coefficient of static friction and N is the normal force exerted on the object. However, since the normal force is not given in the problem, we need to find it using the weight of the box (mg). The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it and is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the weight of the object.
In summary, to solve these problems, you need to find the normal force acting on the object, and then you can determine the static friction using the formula Fs = μs * N.