Which surface woukld you slide further on - a road covered in ice or straw?

Question

Help!!!!

Answer 1

You slide further on ice because a surface made out of ice is generally smoother than a surface made out of straws, that results in that on ice you have less friction.

Less friction results in less force slowing you down, that means you slide further.



Example:

If you slide on straws with a force of 100 N

The force in the opposite direction of the straws is 60 N

so the force your left with is 40 N



Example:

If your slide on ice with a force of 100 N

The force in the opposite direction is 30

so the force your left with is 70 N

Answer 2

Hi susi, It isn't really possible to know the answer without knowing the coefficient of friction between feet and the surface. However, I am assuming that by "straw" you mean the cut, dried grass variety, not the ones you suck drink up through. In that case, my view is that straw is far slipperier than ice.

Answer 3

The coefficient of rubber on ice is about 0.05, the coefficient of rubber on (wet) straw is about 0.25.

Hence you would skid further on the ice-covered road.

Answer 4

is a road covered .

Answer 5

Ice, because there would be less friction.