Calculating Friction with Free-Body Diagrams
10th Grade · Physics · 80 min
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Learning Objective
I can draw a free-body diagram and use it to calculate the coefficient of friction.
- 1
Kinetic friction slows objects down as they slide, while static friction must be overcome to start an object's movement.
- 2
The force of kinetic friction depends on the coefficient of kinetic friction (μₖ) and the normal force (F_N), and is calculated as F_friction = μₖ * F_N.
- 3
When an object is on a ramp, the normal force is equal to (mg) x (the cosine of the angle), where mg is the weight of the object.
