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[Phys-l] Static vs kinetic friction



Does static friction come into play during the instant when a cart reverses
direction after being kicked up the ramp?

While recognizing that experimental variability can be substantial, at least within the context of our simplified model of friction, the answer is clearly yes:

Choose the angle of the ramp to be between the inverse tangent of the kinetic and static coefficients.

So for best chance of experimental success, choose some pair of surfaces where the difference between the static and kinetic coefficients is large (and probably where the kinetic value is quite small so that the ramp angle won't be unmanageably large).
--
Carl E Mungan, Assoc Prof of Physics 410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
Naval Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-1363
mailto:mungan@usna.edu http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/