IB SEHS Topic 10: Friction & Drag
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Friction - CORRECT ANSWER - Force that acts parallel to the interface of two surfaces
that are in contact, and opposes their relative motion.
Force of Friction - CORRECT ANSWER - Ff = μR
Force of friction = Coefficient of friction x Normal reaction force
Static Friction - CORRECT ANSWER - the force that resists the initiation of sliding
motion between two surfaces that are in contact and at rest
Eg. Friction to keep tennis racket in hand
Dynamic Friction - CORRECT ANSWER - Frictional force that develops between two
surfaces in contact that are moving or sliding relative to each other; sliding friction; kinetic
friction.
Eg. Skiing
coefficient of friction - CORRECT ANSWER - the ratio of the force of friction to the
normal force acting between two objects
µ = Ff R
What does the magnitude of the coefficient of friction depend on? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Magnitude depends on the materials in contact
Eg. steel on ice (in ice-skating) has a low coefficient of friction
Eg. Rubber sole on ground (running) has a high coefficient of friction