Coefficient of friction
Definition
The coefficient of friction is a value that represents how much two surfaces resist sliding past each other. It quantifies the amount of frictional force between two objects in contact.
Analogy
Think about walking on different types of floors - carpeted floor versus an icy surface. The coefficient of friction tells us which surface has more resistance to our movement and helps us understand why we might slip more easily on one surface compared to another.
Related terms
Static friction: This is the frictional force between two surfaces when they are not moving relative to each other. It prevents objects from starting to slide against each other.
Kinetic friction: This is the frictional force between two surfaces when they are sliding past each other. It opposes the motion of the objects and acts to slow them down.
Rolling friction: This type of friction occurs when an object rolls over a surface, like a ball rolling on the ground. It is generally smaller than static or kinetic friction.
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