Friction Force Calculator
Compare maximum static friction and kinetic friction from a user-entered normal force and coefficients.
Fstatic,max = μsN; Fkinetic = μkN. Actual static friction is at most μsN and depends on applied force. This calculator does not infer motion or actual static friction.
All calculations run in this browser; values are not uploaded or saved.
Reference: OpenStax College Physics 2e
Enter values to calculate.
A QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Compare maximum static friction and kinetic friction from a user-entered normal force and coefficients.
- Fstatic,max = μsN; Fkinetic = μkN. Actual static friction is at most μsN and depends on applied force. This calculator does not infer motion or actual static friction.
- All calculations run in this browser; values are not uploaded or saved.
Formula
Fstatic,max = μsN; Fkinetic = μkN. Actual static friction is at most μsN and depends on applied force. This calculator does not infer motion or actual static friction.
Assumptions and limits
All calculations run in this browser; values are not uploaded or saved.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Is static friction always equal to μsN?
No. μsN is the maximum static friction; the actual static force adjusts up to that limit based on applied force.
Does the tool determine whether an object moves?
No. It reports the maximum static and kinetic values from the inputs, not the object’s motion.