Maximum Static

Friction
 Max. force of static friction
• Force of static friction ≤ (coefficient of static friction)(normal force) maximum force of
static friction = (coefficient of static friction)(normal force)
• Fs ≤ μs η , and Fsmax = μs η
• Fs = force of static friction
• μs = coefficient of static friction
• η = normal force (Greek letter "eta")
• ≤ means "less than or equal to"
• Fsmax = maximum force of static friction
 Example 1
•  A 5500 N force is applied to a sled full of firewood in a snow-covered
forest. The skis of the sled have a coefficient of static friction μs = 0.75
with the snow. If the fully-loaded sled has a mass of 700 kg, what is the
maximum force of static friction, and is the force applied enough to
overcome it?
 Solution
• On a flat surface, the normal force on an object is η = mg. Using this, the maximum force of static
friction can be found:
• Fsmax = μs η
• Fsmax = μs mg
• Fsmax = (0.75)(700 kg)(9.8 m/(s2))
• Fsmax = 5145 kg∙m/s2
• Fsmax = 5145 N
• The maximum force of static friction is 5145 N, and therefore the applied force of 5500 N is enough
to overcome it, and start moving the sled.
 Example 2
• A person building a brick-making machine wants to measure the
coefficient of static friction between brick and wood. To do this, she
places a 2.00 kg brick on a flat piece of wood, and gradually applies more
and more force until the brick moves. She finds that the brick moves when
exactly 11.8 N of force is applied. What is the coefficient of static
friction?
Solution