The limiting friction between two bodies in contact is independent of

The value of limiting friction is primarily dependent on the strength of the interlocking irregularities between two surfaces in contact. When two surfaces come into contact, the roughness of the surfaces leads to interlocking of microscopic irregularities, which contributes to the frictional force between them. This force is also referred to as the maximum static friction.

The limiting friction depends on several factors, including:

• Normal reaction: The force exerted by the surface perpendicular to the contact area, which is proportional to the weight of the body.
• Nature of the surfaces in contact: The material properties, roughness, and texture of the two surfaces will determine the extent of interlocking and thus affect the limiting friction.

It is important to note that limiting friction is an opposing force that acts to resist the relative motion between the two surfaces. This opposing force arises from the interlocking of the irregularities along the direction of motion. The key point is that the force of limiting friction is not influenced by the area of contact between the surfaces.

In other words, the magnitude of limiting friction remains constant regardless of the contact area, as long as the normal reaction and the nature of the surfaces remain the same. This is because, in practice, when the area of contact increases, the microscopic interlocking irregularities spread over a larger area, but the pressure at each point decreases, maintaining the overall force constant. Therefore, we can conclude that limiting friction is independent of the area of contact between the surfaces.

To summarize, limiting friction is determined by:

• The normal reaction between the surfaces.
• The properties and roughness of the surfaces.

However, limiting friction does not depend on the area of contact between the two surfaces.