A box rests on the back of a truck. The coefficient of static friction between the box and the bed of the truck is 0.300. (a) When the truck accelerates forward, what force accelerates the box? (b) Find the maximum acceleration the truck can have before the box slides.

Answer 1

(a) The friction force accelerates the box.
(b) The box slides if mus*(M g) < M a
mus = 0.30 < a/g

"mus" is the static friction coefficient. It would normally be written as a Greek lower case "mu" with an "s" subscript.

a = 0.3 g = 2.94 m/s^2 is the maximum acceleration without slipping

Answer 2

Razan is moving to a new apartment and puts a dresser in the back of her pickup truck. When the truck accelerates forward, what force accelerates the dresser? Under what circumstances could the dresser slide? In which direction?