Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Static friction is the force that prevents an object from moving when a force is applied to it. It occurs when two surfaces are in contact and not sliding past each other.
Related terms
Kinetic friction: Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object as it slides over a surface.
Contact area: Contact area refers to the portion of two surfaces that are in direct contact with each other. It affects the magnitude of both static and kinetic friction forces.
Coefficient of static friction: The coefficient of static friction is a value that represents how difficult it is to start an object's motion on a particular surface.