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A scale is a force indicator. The reading on a scale is simply telling you what force is being applied. If you try dragging an object across the floor using a spring scale, you are applying a force to the spring scale which is applying a force to the object. The spring scale cannot put more force on the object than you are putting on the scale, and it has to put all of the force that you put on it on the object you are pulling. The only other force on the object besides your pulling force is friction. If the object is traveling at a constant velocity, the forces on it are equal. That means that your pulling force has to equal the force of friction. The scale that you are using will read the amount of force you are putting on the object which will tell you how much friction is pulling backwards on the object because these forces are equal strengths.

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17y ago
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11y ago

because the spring scale measures friction..therefore the measure (from the spring scale) is equal to the force needed to do something

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Q: Why is the reading on the spring scale equal to the friction force in each case?
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How is force and friction related?

The Force of friction is equal to the coefficient of friction times the normal force. Since normal force is equal to mass times the acceleration of gravity (9.8 m/s2), the force of friction is directly proportional to the mass.


What is required to get a stationary object moving?

An outside force is needed. If friction comes into play (which it likely will), the magnitude of the applied force must be greater than the force of friction acting upon the object in order for the object to move. FYI, the force of friction is equal to the coefficient of static friction times the normal force (equal to the weight of the object).


Investigate-how friction increases with increase of size of an object?

The force of friction on an object is equal to the coefficient of friction times the force perpendicular to the surface (normal force). When the mass of an object increases, the normal force increases, and the force of friction also increases. However, because the equation does not involve surface area, increasing surface area has no affect on the force of friction.


What law says that heavier objects requier more force then lighter objects?

More force for what?According to Newton's Second Law, F=ma (force = mass x acceleration), it requires more force to accelerate a more massive object.On the other hand, do some reading, in basic physics books, about friction - even to maintain a constant speed, the force required to overcome friction is also proportional to an object's weight. The force of friction is equal to the "normal" force - the force perpendicular to the surface of contact, multiplied by a coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction is typically somewhere between 0.2 and 1.0, depending on the types of surfaces.


When an object is pulling across a level surface at a constant velocity what force is the pulling force equal to?

Friction.

Related questions

Why is reading on the spring scale equal to the friction force in each case?

because the spring scale measures friction..therefore the measure (from the spring scale) is equal to the force needed to do something


When an object is pulled on a level surface at a constant velocity what force is the pulling force equal to?

If there is no friction or anything that can impede the movement off the object, then the force is zero. If there is friction, then the force is equal to that of the friction.


What does the spring scale measure if measured in newtons?

I just read that you can weigh anything on it.


How is force and friction related?

The Force of friction is equal to the coefficient of friction times the normal force. Since normal force is equal to mass times the acceleration of gravity (9.8 m/s2), the force of friction is directly proportional to the mass.


What is friction and what is meant by maximum friction?

Friction is a force that opposes motion. Maximum friction is the?æ force that must be overcome in order for a body to start moving.?æ Maximum friction is equal to the?æ product of normal force and coefficient of the friction.


Is there a force that can go against friction?

No. Friction can only slow an object down. If friction were imparting a force greater than that of the applied forces, then friction in and of itself would actually be causing the object to move, which does not happen.


What is required to get a stationary object moving?

An outside force is needed. If friction comes into play (which it likely will), the magnitude of the applied force must be greater than the force of friction acting upon the object in order for the object to move. FYI, the force of friction is equal to the coefficient of static friction times the normal force (equal to the weight of the object).


Investigate-how friction increases with increase of size of an object?

The force of friction on an object is equal to the coefficient of friction times the force perpendicular to the surface (normal force). When the mass of an object increases, the normal force increases, and the force of friction also increases. However, because the equation does not involve surface area, increasing surface area has no affect on the force of friction.


What law says that heavier objects requier more force then lighter objects?

More force for what?According to Newton's Second Law, F=ma (force = mass x acceleration), it requires more force to accelerate a more massive object.On the other hand, do some reading, in basic physics books, about friction - even to maintain a constant speed, the force required to overcome friction is also proportional to an object's weight. The force of friction is equal to the "normal" force - the force perpendicular to the surface of contact, multiplied by a coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction is typically somewhere between 0.2 and 1.0, depending on the types of surfaces.


Why does it take time for friction to become equal to the force?

Because the object is still in motion. When the frictional force is equal to the other force, then the object will be stopped completely.


When an object is pulling across a level surface at a constant velocity what force is the pulling force equal to?

Friction.


Is the thrust force equal to friction force?

Yes they are equal because they are both forces and when the thrust of planes (for example) are high in the air, the thrust pulls the plane forward. While the friction force pushes the plane forward. Think of it as someone pushing you towards something that you don't want to go into, that is the same as thrust and friction forces because the thrust is pushing you forward and the friction force is the balance of it all.