ASVAB · Force and Motion

A heavy box sits on the floor and does not move. The force preventing it from sliding when pushed gently is:

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Friction

A Gravity
B Friction
C Magnetism
D Tension

Why this is the answer

FRICTION is the force that resists the sliding motion between the box and the floor, preventing it from moving when pushed gently. ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension tests forces. FRICTION opposes motion between surfaces in contact; STATIC friction holds an object still until enough force overcomes it; KINETIC friction acts on a moving object. Other forces: GRAVITY (pulls down); TENSION (pull through a rope/cable); NORMAL force (surface pushing up). Friction resisting the push is the relevant force here — a commonly tested concept.

Source: ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension — Friction

Practice more questions

This question is from our ASVAB Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Force and Motion and other topics.

Take the Mechanical Comprehension practice test →

About this topic: Force and Motion

Force and motion questions cover Newton's laws, friction, gravity, acceleration and momentum, usually as pictures of objects being pushed, pulled, dropped or balanced. Identify every force acting before deciding what the object will do. This is one of 13 Mechanical Comprehension questions on force and motion, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

Recommended study materials

Study guide

As an Amazon Associate, CJ Affiliate, and AWIN publisher we earn from qualifying purchases. Links above are affiliate links. Full disclosure →

A heavy box sits on the floor and does not move. The force preventing it from sliding when pushed gently is:

Why this is the answer

Practice more questions

About this topic: Force and Motion

Related questions

An object weighing 100 lbs is sitting on a frictionless inclined plane that makes a 30° angle with the horizontal. What force, applied parallel to the incline, is needed to keep the object from sliding down?

Two objects of different mass fall from the same height in a vacuum (no air resistance). Which hits the ground first?

A 5 kg object is pushed across a level floor with a force of 20 Newtons. What is its acceleration? (Ignore friction.)

Two objects collide. Object A weighs 10 kg moving at 5 m/s. Object B weighs 5 kg at rest. After the collision they stick together. What is their combined velocity? (Conservation of momentum.)

Recommended study materials

ASVAB Total Prep (Kaplan)

Barron's ASVAB with Online Tests 12th Ed.

ASVAB for Dummies 4th Ed. (Wiley)