An object with a mass of #16 kg# is lying still on a surface and is compressing a horizontal spring by #7/8 m#. If the spring's constant is #12 (kg)/s^2#, what is the minimum value of the surface's coefficient of static friction?

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Answer 1 · 2016-04-20T08:01:30

#0.067#

The force exerted by a spring with spring constant #k# and after a compression of #x# is given as #-kx#.

Now, as friction is always in the opposite direction to the applied force, hence, we have

#muN = kx#

where #N# is the normal force #= mg#

hence,

#mu = (kx)/(mg) = (12*7/8)/(16*9.8) ~~0.067 #