Book page 685 Updated on2026-09-05
No. Give the same object the same gentle push, and on a different surface it travels a different distance before stopping.
Nothing about the object has changed — it is the same box with the same base. Only the second surface has changed. So the force that stops it must depend on what the two surfaces in contact are made of, and not on the object alone.
No. The rougher the surface, the sooner the object stops.
| Surface | How far the object slides | What this tells us about friction |
|---|---|---|
| Glass, ceramic tile | Longest distance | Very smooth — least friction |
| Polished wood | Shorter | More friction than glass |
| Cloth | Shorter still | Rougher — more friction |
| Sand | Stops almost at once | Roughest — greatest friction |
So for different surfaces the object stops after moving different distances, and we can say that the force of friction depends upon the nature of the surfaces in contact. Friction is greater on rough surfaces.