- #1
Redfire66
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Actually I've been thinking about friction lately and it got me a bit confused
I was always taught that friction is in the direction that opposes motion, however whenever I learned about static friction I sort of just went with it. It made sense, but I never actually thought about vectors (which seemed pretty silly now that I look back)
Let's use a common example and say that a block is inclined on a ramp with an angle. If it were to be tied to something, there would be a tension force as the block comes to rest.
Is the static friction now acting on the block opposing gravity or is it opposing the tension force? Correct me if I'm wrong but I assume that it would oppose the gravitational force as gravity still acts on it... If I didn't explain clear enough then I don't mind being asked to clarify it some more
Thanks
I was always taught that friction is in the direction that opposes motion, however whenever I learned about static friction I sort of just went with it. It made sense, but I never actually thought about vectors (which seemed pretty silly now that I look back)
Let's use a common example and say that a block is inclined on a ramp with an angle. If it were to be tied to something, there would be a tension force as the block comes to rest.
Is the static friction now acting on the block opposing gravity or is it opposing the tension force? Correct me if I'm wrong but I assume that it would oppose the gravitational force as gravity still acts on it... If I didn't explain clear enough then I don't mind being asked to clarify it some more
Thanks
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