Question

What happens to the size of the static frictonal force as you begin to pull on the force scale

Answer 1

Not sure they are asking this, but it may well be:

Static frictional force can be from 0 to a maximum value. For instance, a book on your desk does not move, but the frictional force is zero. Then, when you try to move it, it doesn't until a moment where it does. The maximum static force is a coefficient (mu_static) multiplied by the Normal force (that in turn is usually derived from the weight, but whichever it is).

Then, after set in motion, static friction does not apply. It is kinetic frictional force, whose formula is the same, but it is just the value (not between zero and a maximum value):

F_kinetic = mu_kinetic * Normal

What happens is that mu_kinetic < mu_static and the frictional force will be less!

Once in motion, it's easy to keep it moving, right? Hope it helps!

Answer 2

It is at its peak force, it takes the most force to overcome the static stare because of inertia