Question

Is Friction a self-adjusting force? Give two disadvantages of friction?

Answer 1

Static friction is the opposing force that comes into play when a body is at rest or tends to move over the surface of another body, but the actual motion has not yet started. Static friction is a self adjusting force because neither it has fixed magnitude nor direction. It adjusts according to the applied force.

Static friction is the only self adjusting force. Limiting and dynamic frictions are not self-adjusting

Disadvantages:

1. Machines wear out and need lubrication after a period of time due to the friction present between the different parts of a machine.

2. Friction also produces heat in machines, when their parts are rubbed against each other. This can lead to over heating of the machine, which may lead to the damage of parts.

3. Friction causes forest fires.