What’s does “co efficient of friction” mean and how is it different from Friction Force?
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A coefficient is a number you multiply an input value by to get the output. In this case, you’ve got the equation:
f = μN
f is the friction force
μ is the coefficient of friction
And N is the *normal force*
The normal force is just the force pushing the two surfaces together. So for a box sitting on the floor, it’s just gravity.
Since friction force is the product of the coefficient of friction, you can make friction go up by either increasing the normal force (i.e. pushing them together harder) or increasing the coefficient of friction (e.g. by making one or both surfaces rougher).
Coefficient of friction is a property of *both materials together*. Some materials have pretty low friction with most materials (Teflon is a great example) and some materials have a much higher friction with most materials (like sandpaper). But it’s the *interaction* between the two that gives the coefficient of friction.
If that seems confusing, imagine a board with a bunch of nails poking out of it. If you put a big block of rubber on it, the nails would stab in and it’d be really hard to push the block around. On the other hand, if you put a sheet of metal, the nails wouldn’t poke in at all, and the sheet would move much more easily. Friction works partially like this on a microscopic level
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