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Friction: Study Guide
1. True or False: A wagon filled with rocks would have the same
frictional force with the ground as an empty wagon.
2. Three students decided to go sledding in the park. Each of the
students owned the same model of sled, but each of the students
weighed different amounts, as shown in the charts below. Whose
sled would have to overcome the most friction to move down the
hill?
Student
A
B
C
A.
B.
C.
D.
Weight
40 kg
60 kg
50 kg
Student A
Student B
Student C
There would be no difference.
3. True or False: If a basketball rolls off of smooth pavement onto
unpaved bumpy ground, the frictional force between it and the
ground would increase.
4. Michael started walking down his sidewalk at a speed of 2 m/s.
He increased his speed to 3 m/s as he crossed a street. He then
slowed to 1 m/s. Finally, when he came to the next street, he
turned left and continued traveling 1 m/s. At what point in his
trip did Michael accelerate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
When he increased his speed from 2 m/s to 3 m/s.
When he decreased his speed from 3 m/s to 1 m/s/.
When he changed direction.
All of the above.
5. True or False: Increasing the frictional force between a moving
object and the ground will increase the object’s velocity.
6. In cold climates ice can form on streets and roads. Ice on a road
can be dangerous because it is slippery and makes it difficult for
cars to stop. Sometimes when ice appears, road crews will pour
sand onto the road. Why would this be helpful?
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7. When a roller coaster travels down a hill, it experiences positive
acceleration. What changes occur when this happens?
A. Speed and frictional force decrease.
B. Speed increases and frictional force decreases.
C. Speed and frictional force increase.
D. Speed increases and frictional force remains constant.
8. Beth pushed on her computer mouse and the mouse moved across
her desk. What can be determined about the force of friction
between the mouse and the desk?
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9. Which of the following would have the coefficient of friction (μ)
value that is closest to zero?
A. Sand paper pushed against sand paper.
B. Smooth iced pushed against smooth ice.
C. Sand paper pushed against smooth ice.
D. Smooth ice pushed against gravel.
10. Nick is learning to drive a car. One of the car’s controls, the
accelerator, positively accelerates the car every time that he
pushes it. What should Nick expect to happen to his car after
pushing the accelerator?
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11. Sam and Lesley are each pulling a speaker from the school’s
music room to the auditorium. Both speakers have a mass of 50
kg; however, Sam’s speaker has double the surface area of
Lesley’s speaker. Does Sam need to apply more force than Lesley
to pull his speaker? Explain your answer.
50 kg
Lesley’s Speaker
gg50
kg
50 k
Sam’s Speaker
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12. Corey rode her bike on her city’s paved bike path. She started
her trip traveling 4 m/s. She slowed down to 0.5 m/s as she biked
up a hill, but she sped up to 7 m/s as she traveled down to the
other side. At what point was the frictional force between the
pavement and the bike the highest?
A. When the bike was traveling 4 m/s.
B. When the bike was traveling 0.5 m/s.
C. When the bike was traveling 7 m/s.
D. Frictional force was the same for all speeds.
13.What is the difference between weight and mass?
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14. What factors determine the strength of friction force when two
surfaces slide against each other?
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15. State the law of universal gravitation.
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16.What is acceleration?
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17.What is velocity?
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18.What is the coefficient of friction?
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19.Define normal reaction force.
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20.What is applied force?
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21. What does ΣF= ma stand for?
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22.What is fluid friction?
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23.Give an example of fluid friction.
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24.What is rolling friction?
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25.How much do objects accelerate as they fall?
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26.What is air resistance?
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27. Give two examples of how friction is useful.
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28.What is Newton’s First Law of Motion?
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29. An object in __________________ accelerates as it falls.
30.What is sliding friction?
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31.Define terminal velocity.
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