Question

Snow has been lying on a mountainside. Suddenly, it starts to move down the mountain. Which types of friction are observed in this avalanche? Where does each type occur?

Answer 1

Snow starts to move down the mountain

The energy which is due to position is potential energy. So when the snow is lying on the mountain. It possess potential energy but when suddenly, it starts to move down the mountain, the potential energy is converted into the kinetic energy. Yet some force is exerting on the snow to stop the smooth flow of snow through mountains.

This example of frictional force may be due to presence of rough surface or stones. Generally, there are four types of friction as static, rolling, sliding and fluid friction. Though in this case when snow is lying it possess static friction, when flows then it possesses sliding and fluid friction both.