Box in a Vehicle#

A pickup truck is at a stop-light, with a box sitting in the back. When the light turns green, the driver accelerates too fast in the positive x-direction. From the perspective of the driver, the box slides backwards as they accelerate.

Part 1#

What type of friction is affecting the box and which direction is the friction force pointing from the perspective of a pedestrian watching the pickup truck (and box) go past?

Answer Section#

  • Kinetic friction, positive x-direction

  • Kinetic friction, negative x-direction

  • Static friction, positive x-direction

  • Static friction, negative x-direction

Attribution#

Problem is from the OpenStax University Physics Volume 2 textbook, licensed under the CC-BY 4.0 license.
Image representing the Creative Commons 4.0 BY license.