Question

An object with a mass of `16 kg` is lying still on a surface and is compressing a horizontal spring by `5/3 m`. If the spring's constant is `4 (kg)/s^2`, what is the minimum value of the surface's coefficient of static friction?

Answer 1

`mu=0.0425`

Explanation:

Looking at the problem we can write the equilibrium force equation in horizontal direction:
`"Friction force = Spring force"`
So, `"Friction Coefficient"(mu) * "Reaction force" (R) = "Spring constant" (k) * "Displacement" (x)`
`mu * R = k*x` ;or
`mu * mg=k*x` ;or
`mu * 16*9.81=4*5/3` ;or
`mu=0.0425`
Thus the Friction coefficient is `mu=0.0425`