Question

While travelling on a rickshaw, you might have experienced that if the seat cover is very smooth, you tend to slip when brakes are applied suddenly. Explain.

Answer 1

Frictional force

1. Friction is a force that opposes the motion or sliding of one object over the other. This opposition is caused by the interlocking of surfaces in contact. Smooth surfaces offer minimum friction whereas rough surfaces produce a high magnitude of friction.
2. For example, riding a bicycle on a smooth road need less peddling force whereas riding on a rough road, muddy road, or on sand requires more peddling force.
3. The seat cover of the rickshaw is very smooth, it has minimum friction on our body because of negligible interlocking of the surface in contact. Hence we tend to slip when brakes are applied suddenly.