Question

Using a horizontal force F, a table is moved across the floor at a constant velocity. How much is the frictional force exerted by the floor on the table?

Answer 1

The table is moving with a constant velocity, which means its acceleration is zero. Therefore, the net force acting on it is also zero.

The two horizontal forces acting on the table are the applied force F in the forward direction and the frictional force in the opposite direction. For the net force to be zero, these two forces must balance each other.

Hence, the frictional force exerted by the floor on the table is equal in magnitude to F but acts in the opposite direction to the motion.