Question

A child pushes a 100 kg refrigerator with a force of 50 N, but the refrigerator does not move. Suppose the coefficient of static friction between the floor and the refrigerator is 0.4. What is the force due to friction in this scenario

Answer 1

Answer:

50 N

Explanation:

Since the refrigerator doesn’t move, that means the force of friction equals the amount of force the child exerts on the fridge. If the friction force were greater than the force by the child, the fridge would start accelerating towards the child. If it were less than the force the child exerted, the fridge would start accelerating away from the child. Therefore, the net force must be 0, in this case, the friction force is equal to the force the child exerted, for it to stay at rest (as Newton’s First Law stated).

I hope this helps! :)