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Static Friction MicroSim

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About This MicroSim

This simulation demonstrates how static friction responds to an applied force up to its maximum value, then transitions to kinetic friction when the object starts sliding.

Key Concepts

  • Static friction adjusts to match the applied force (up to a maximum)
  • Maximum static friction: f_s^max = μ_s × N
  • Kinetic friction is constant: f_k = μ_k × N
  • Kinetic friction < static friction (typically μ_k ≈ 0.7 × μ_s)