Question

In one or two sentences, describe what would happen to the arrows and forces if the surface that the crate was on was ice. (Hint: Ice has almost no friction.)

a. The arrows and forces would increase.
b. The arrows and forces would remain the same.
c. The arrows and forces would decrease.
d. The arrows and forces would become unpredictable.

Answer 1

On an icy surface with almost no friction, the arrows and forces representing friction would decrease, requiring less force to move or stop the crate.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the surface that the crate was on was ice, which has almost no friction, the arrows and forces would decrease. This is because the force of friction, which opposes the motion and is represented by the arrows, would be nearly eliminated. So, rather than increasing or staying the same, the arrows representing frictional forces would become smaller, indicating a decrease in the force needed to move the crate. Similarly, the actual force necessary to move or stop the crate would also decrease in comparison to a scenario with higher friction, such as a concrete floor.