Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2026 – Comprehensive Prep

The statement that static friction must be overcome to initiate motion is accurate because static friction is the force that keeps an object at rest when a force is applied. It acts on an object at rest and must be overcome by an external force to start the motion of that object. This frictional force adjusts in magnitude up to its maximum value to match the applied force, which means that as long as the object remains stationary, static friction can vary.

Understanding static friction is crucial in real-world applications, such as when you push a heavy object. Initially, it may resist movement until you apply enough force to exceed the threshold of static friction, allowing the object to start moving and transitioning into kinetic friction. This process reveals the difference between these two types of friction, where static friction is pertinent at the onset of motion, while kinetic friction is relevant to objects already in motion.

In contrast, kinetic friction usually has a lower coefficient than the maximum static friction, meaning it is often easier to keep an object moving than to start moving it. This highlights why kinetic friction cannot correctly be described as greater than static friction, nor can it apply to moving objects, as it specifically relates to the frictional force acting on objects that are already in motion. These distinctions reinforce the accuracy