Normal Force - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Card 1 of 77

0
Didn't Know
Knew It
0
1 of 2019 left
Question

A book of mass 1kg is held to a vertical wall by a person's hand applying a 20N force directly toward the wall. The wall has a static friction coefficient of 0.3 and a kinetic friction coefficient of 0.2. With the book held at rest, what the is frictional force keeping the book from sliding down the wall?

Tap to reveal answer

Answer

Frictional force is calculated using the normal force and the friction coefficient. Since the book is at rest (not in motion), we use the coefficient of static friction.

The normal force will be equal and opposite the force pushing directly into the surface; in this case, that means the normal force will be 20N.

Solve for the force of friction:

← Didn't Know|Knew It →