If the angle of inclination of a plane increases, what happens to the static frictional force acting on an object resting on the plane?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If the angle of inclination of a plane increases, what happens to the static frictional force acting on an object resting on the plane?
Increases
Decreases
Remains constant
Becomes zero
As the angle increases, the component of gravitational force parallel to the plane increases, which can lead to a decrease in static friction until it reaches its maximum value.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: If the angle of inclination of a plane increases, what happens to the static frictional force acting on an object resting on the plane?
Solution: As the angle increases, the component of gravitational force parallel to the plane increases, which can lead to a decrease in static friction until it reaches its maximum value.
Steps: 8
Step 1: Understand that static friction is the force that keeps an object at rest on a surface.
Step 2: Recognize that when a plane is inclined, gravity pulls the object down the slope.
Step 3: Identify that the force of gravity can be split into two components: one parallel to the plane and one perpendicular to the plane.
Step 4: As the angle of the incline increases, the parallel component of the gravitational force (the force trying to pull the object down the slope) becomes larger.
Step 5: Realize that static friction must counteract this parallel force to keep the object at rest.
Step 6: Note that static friction has a maximum value, which depends on the normal force (the perpendicular component of gravity).
Step 7: As the angle increases, the normal force decreases, which can reduce the maximum static friction available.
Step 8: Conclude that as the angle increases, static friction may decrease until it reaches its maximum value, which is determined by the normal force.
