A block is at rest on a horizontal surface. If the applied force is gradually in
Practice Questions
Q1
A block is at rest on a horizontal surface. If the applied force is gradually increased and reaches the maximum static frictional force, what will happen next?
The block will remain at rest
The block will start moving
The block will accelerate
The block will slide back
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A block is at rest on a horizontal surface. If the applied force is gradually increased and reaches the maximum static frictional force, what will happen next?
Correct Answer: Block will start moving.
Step 1: A block is placed on a flat surface and is not moving.
Step 2: There is a force trying to push the block, but it is not strong enough to move it yet.
Step 3: As you gradually increase the pushing force, the block stays at rest because of static friction.
Step 4: The static frictional force is the force that keeps the block from moving.
Step 5: You keep increasing the applied force until it reaches the maximum static frictional force.
Step 6: At this point, the block is still not moving, but it is at the limit of what static friction can hold.
Step 7: If you increase the applied force even more, it will exceed the maximum static frictional force.
Step 8: Once the applied force is greater than the maximum static friction, the block will start to move.
Static Friction – The force that resists the initiation of sliding motion between two surfaces in contact.
Kinetic Friction – The force that opposes the motion of two surfaces sliding past each other once the object is in motion.
Newton's Laws of Motion – The principles that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it.
