An object with a mass of #1# #kg# is lying still on a surface and is compressing a horizontal spring by #1/4# #m#. If the spring's constant is #3# #kgs^-2#, what is the minimum value of the surface's coefficient of static friction?

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Answer 1 · 2016-07-04T11:24:53

The force exerted by the spring is #F=kx=3xx1/4=3/4# #N#.

The frictional force is given by #F_"frict"=muF_"norm"=mumg=muxx1xx9.8# #N#

The frictional force must be at least equal to the spring force, so:

#9.8mu=3/4#, and rearranging, #mu=0.076# (no units).