Friction acting on box not slipping in truck

In summary, the box sitting in the back of a truck that accelerates forward when a traffic light turns green will experience a force of static friction in the forward direction. This is because the direction of motion of the box relative to the car would be backwards, so friction must be in the forward direction to keep the box from moving. This is due to the fact that the truck goes forward but the wheels of the truck are not attached to the box, causing the box to want to stay still and let the truck slip underneath it. Drawing a picture can also help visualize this concept.
  • #1
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Sorry for not using the proper post format. I'm typing on my phone and the post template doesn't show up.

Question: a box is sitting in the back of a truck which accelerates forward when a traffic light turns green. Which of the following statements is correct if the boxdoes not slip?

The answer is: the force of static friction acts on the box in the forward direction.

I don't understand why it's in the forward direction. I thought friction was always in the direction opposite motion, and motion, in this case, is forward. Therefore, shouldn't the friction be acting backward?
 
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  • #2
The truck goes forward but the wheels of the truck aren't attached to the box. The box wants to stay still and let the truck slip underneath it. Friction however decides to push the box and force it to stay on the truck.
Drawing a picture helps too.
 
  • #3
The direction of motion of the car is forward, but the direction of motion of the box relative to the car would be backwards. Thus, friction must be in the forwards direction to keep the box from moving.
 

Related to Friction acting on box not slipping in truck

What is friction?

Friction is a force that occurs when two surfaces come into contact and rub against each other. It resists the motion between the two surfaces.

How does friction act on a box in a truck?

When a box is placed in a truck, the force of friction acts on it in two ways: static friction and kinetic friction. Static friction prevents the box from slipping while the truck is at rest, while kinetic friction resists the motion of the box as the truck moves.

Why does the box not slip in the truck?

The box does not slip in the truck because of the force of static friction. This force is equal and opposite to the force of gravity pulling the box downward, and it keeps the box in place on the truck's surface.

What factors affect the friction acting on the box?

The amount of friction acting on the box depends on the weight of the box, the roughness of the surfaces in contact, and the force pressing the surfaces together. Additionally, the type of material the surfaces are made of can also affect the friction.

How can friction be reduced in this scenario?

To reduce the amount of friction acting on the box in a truck, you can use lubricants, such as oil or grease, on the surfaces in contact. This helps to reduce the roughness and allows the surfaces to slide more easily against each other.

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