friction: Quick Facts

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Diagram showing four stages of frictional forces on a box atop a table: (A) only gravity and normal force act; (B) static friction opposes a small applied force; (C) static friction at its maximum resists further applied force; (D) kinetic friction opposes motion as the box moves.

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Topics

stick-slip friction internal friction kinetic friction static friction coefficient of friction rolling friction wear dry damping viscosity matter chemical bonding nuclear fission catalysis nuclear fusion lubrication deformation and flow diffusion work absorption adsorption

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Italian-born physicist Dr. Enrico Fermi draws a diagram at a blackboard with mathematical equations. circa 1950.

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Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi at work in the wireless room of his yacht Electra, c. 1920.

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