Question

1)Discuss how every movement requires a frictional force.
2) Do you think it would be possible to walk or run on a frictionless surface?
3) If you were an astronaut separated from the space station while holding a wrench, what would you do to get back?

Answer 1

it would be impossible to walk on a frictionless surface you would be moving in place.

Answer 2

1) Not if an external force is acted upon the object
2) If you were put on a frictionless surface and asked to walk/run - you would stay stationary no matter what you would do unless 1)
3) Say my prayers

Answer 3

Ankh haha!!! answer 3 hilarious!!
Zoltaf thank you for your input!

Answer 4

I need more explanations tho so I can better understand the concept

Answer 5

Are you familiar with Netwon's third law of motion?

Answer 6

every action has a reaction?

Answer 7

Yes. If you were to push a chair on a regular surface, it would move away from you. (if the chair is light enough)
If you would try the same on a frictionless surface, you and the chair would just push each other in the same force away from one another.

Answer 8

On a regular surface, while you push the chair, the friction prevents you from moving backwards, therefore works forwards.

Answer 9

The reason you stay stationary on a regular surface and the chair moves, is because you have more mass than a chair does, so a bigger force of friction is working on you.

Answer 10

To be more accurate, your static friction threshold is bigger than the chair's.

Answer 11

so every movement requires a frictional force because in order for motion to occur we need a external force ie. friction?

Answer 12

Can you explain why it would be impossible to walk/run on a frictionless surface?

Answer 13

It's a little difficult to define "walk" when it comes to frictionless surfaces. If you were given a light push, you would begin to move and would not be able to stop - you could however make a walking motion, but it would add or subtract from the initial speed you were given by that little push.

Answer 14

If you want to start moving from a stationary position on a frictionless surface, you need to achieve that small push yourself, but since the friction equals to zero, there is no force that will push you in the direction where you want to go

Answer 15

wouldn't add or subtract* (previous message)

Answer 16

Does movement caused by gravity require friction?

Answer 17

I would say yes

Answer 18

Please explain

Answer 19

Was the question: can objects be moved by gravity without friction?

Answer 20

It was implied , yes.

Answer 21

Yes, until the force of friction is equal to the one gravity applies.

Answer 22

Let's say there's a planet with nothing in its atmosphere, pure vacuum and a solid rocky surface.
If you were to release an object in mid air, it would fall down.

Answer 23

Add air, and gasses, and there is no longer a vacuum, so the atmosphere becomes more dense and a force of friction starts to act upon the object in the opposite way of gravity - and slowing it down.

Answer 24

explain it in the context of the gravitational pull of the Sun on the planets.

Answer 25

It's a perfect example, earth orbits (moves around it) the sun "without" friction. Why the quotation? The friction is so little it's negligible.
And in this case the friction is slowing down the earth, not helping it move.

Answer 26

What is the source of this " friction"?

Answer 27

In outer space on Earth? or between touching objects?

Answer 28

We were talking about the Sun and the Earth. Actually we are getting away from the original statement. that "every movement requires friction" in the sense that if friction were not present then there could be no motion. Gravity, coulomb force act in spite of friction do they not?

Answer 29

ohh I see you were asking to help me understand my question better, I thought you guys forgot about my question!!

Answer 30

every movement requires friction"

Answer 31

discuss how every movement requires friction"

Answer 32

Essentially, in a universe without friction at all weird stuff would happen. So it's better to keep it simple (no coulomb law either), let's return to earth from outter space conversations.

Answer 33

The issue is "every movement" not some movements .

Answer 34

yes the question states to discuss how every movement requires friction

Answer 35

so every movement requires a frictional force because in order for motion to occur we need a external force ie. friction? (Is this the reason)

Answer 36

Gleem any input?

Answer 37

If you have a stationary box on a frictionless surface, and an object hits that box from one if its sides, it will begin to move.

Example of movement without friction.

Answer 38

My point is that friction is not required to produce motion.

Answer 39

Let's say it was that astronaut, throwing his wrench back on earth, and it hit that box.