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Space Shuttle Tiles Space Shuttle Tiles Table of Friction Coefficients Table of Friction Coefficients Sliding Friction Sliding Friction

Table of Friction Coefficients

Friction coefficients can be used to calculate the effects of friction on stationary or moving objects. Static friction prevents two stationary objects in contact from moving, while kinetic friction slows the movement of one object in contact with another surface. The amount of friction, and therefore the size of the friction coefficient, depends on the materials that make up the contacting surfaces.

Materials in Contact
Coefficient of Static Friction* S Coefficient of Kinetic Friction * K
Wood on wood 0.5 0.3
Waxed ski on snow 0.1 0.05
Ice on ice 0.1 0.03
Rubber on concrete (dry) 1.0 0.8
Rubber on concrete (wet) 0.7 0.5
Glass on glass 0.94 0.4
Steel on aluminum 0.61 0.47
Steel on steel (dry) 0.7 0.6
Steel on steel (lubricated) 0.12 0.07
Teflon on steel 0.04 0.04
Teflon on Teflon 0.04 0.04
Synovial joints (in humans) 0.01 0.01
* These values are approximate and intended only for comparison.

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Friction
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