Final answer:
The false statement about static friction is that its magnitude is the product of the static friction coefficient and the normal force; the correct explanation is that static friction can vary up to that maximum limit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about static friction that is FALSE is: "The magnitude of the static friction force is the product of the static friction coefficient and the corresponding normal force." In reality, the magnitude of static friction can take on any value from zero up to the maximum static friction force, which is the product of the static friction coefficient (μs) and the normal force (N). This maximum value is expressed as fs(max) = μsN. The actual static friction force depends on the forces acting on the object until it reaches this maximum limit. Once the applied force exceeds this maximum, the object begins to move and static friction no longer applies.
It's also important to understand that the direction of the static friction force is opposite to the direction of the potential movement of the object, which would occur due to other forces acting on it. The static friction force acts parallel to the contact surface and is designed to prevent motion between objects.