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Name: Kenisha
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Question:
Can you reduce friction by decreasing the weight of the object on top? For example, if you wanted to reduce the friction between the tires of a car and the ground underneath it. Let's say on the first test the cars total weight was 3500 lb, if we took out unnecessary items would it reduce the friction between the tires and the ground on the second test? Considering that weight is the gravitational force exerted on an object and by decreasing the force or the push thus reducing friction between the two objects.


Replies:
Friction force = coefficient of friction times the support force.

You can test this with a spring scale pulling on a wood plank. You can change the support force by adding weights on top of the plank. You will see a difference in the frictional force on the scale as you pull at a constant velocity.

---Nathan A.Unterman


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