Final answer:
The force of friction acting upon a softball player during a headfirst dive into third base is considered work being done, which is true according to physics definitions. Work is done by friction over the distance the player slides, converting kinetic energy into other forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force of friction acting upon a softball player as she makes a headfirst dive into third base is an example of work being done. This statement is True. Work, in physics, is defined as a force causing the movement—or displacement—of an object. In the case of the softball player, friction is doing work by exerting a force over the distance the player slides, which removes the player's kinetic energy and converts it into other forms, such as thermal energy. According to the work-energy theorem, the work done by friction is negative because it is in the opposite direction of the player's motion. Thus, the net work done by friction on the player is the product of the friction force and the distance (Wnc = -fd), where Wnc is the nonconservative work, f is the friction force, and d is the distance over which the force is applied.