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In a basic friction problem with Block $A$ sliding on top of Block $B$ , the direction of the friction force is usually explained as being simply the opposite of the direction of motion. So if Block $A$ is sliding to the right, the friction force is pointing to the left. But this reasoning implicitly assumes that we are calculating friction force from the reference frame of Block $B$. What if we instead look at the problem from the reference frame of Block $A$ ? To Block $A$ , it looks as if Block $B$ is sliding to the left, so an observer on Block $A$ would say that there is a friction force which, to oppose the direction of motion, points to the right.

It seems counterintuitive and probably wrong for the direction of friction force to depend on reference frame like this. Where is the flaw in the reasoning above? Are the two reference frames described above not exactly equivalent in a way that leads to the force changing directions?

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Everything in your first paragraph is correct. Friction opposes the relative motion of the blocks. The thing that's tripping you up is that there are two friction forces. One is the force of Block A on Block B and the other is the force of Block B on Block A. These forces point opposite direction (and are equally size, by Newton's third law).

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  • $\begingroup$ One can usually "see" these force pairs when one draws out free body diagrams to solve mechanics problems that involve blocks and friction. $\endgroup$
    – j.c.
    Commented Nov 11, 2010 at 21:02
  • $\begingroup$ Oh, of course. It's true that if I had drawn out the problem I probably would have seen that. Thanks! $\endgroup$
    – electricforce
    Commented Nov 11, 2010 at 22:20
  • $\begingroup$ @electricforce based on your comment, it is generally expected that you will mark this answer as Accepted $\endgroup$
    – Sparr
    Commented Nov 12, 2010 at 2:06
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Actually most forces are independent of the reference frame and guess what friction is one of them. Friction is dependent on the relative motion between the two object under contact and is independent of any reference frame (for anomalies in a non-inertial reference frame you just have to take psuedo-force into account). So whatever you do with you reference frame (other than changing it's orientation) you get the same direction for friction on a given object.

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