What is friction?

Friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object when it's in contact with another object. It can be described by the equation:

[ f_f = \mu N ]

where ( f_f ) is the force of friction, ( \mu ) is the coefficient of friction, and ( N ) is the normal force. Friction plays a crucial role in everyday life, affecting how objects move and interact with each other. Understanding friction is essential in the study of forces and motion in physics.

In Grade 8 science, students learn about the types of friction, the factors that affect it, and how it can be both beneficial and detrimental in various situations.