Final answer:
The type of friction that acts on a ship moving through water is called fluid friction. It differs from static and kinetic friction, which act on stationary objects and sliding surfaces, respectively. Fluid friction results from the resistance faced by an object moving through a fluid medium.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of friction acting on a ship moving through water is called fluid friction. This form of friction is caused by the resistance that occurs when an object moves through a fluid, which includes both liquids and gases. Unlike static friction, which acts on stationary objects, or kinetic friction, which acts on sliding surfaces in motion relative to one another, fluid friction is encountered by objects traveling through a fluid medium.
Kinetic friction is a term used specifically for sliding or moving objects but since a ship moves through water, which is a fluid, the appropriate term is fluid friction. This is also referred to as drag in many contexts. The term encompasses the forces that resist the motion of the ship and is mainly caused by the viscosity of the water and the surface area of the ship that is in contact with the water.