What is the coefficient of sliding friction and what is a representative value for this coefficient for the brittle crust?

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: The coefficient of sliding friction is the friction coefficient on a preexisting fracture surface, and this value is always lower than the internal friction version of the same rock. Existing fracture surfaces control the strength of the upper crust and the coefficient is given by Byerlee’s laws, which tell us that it is 0.6 for most of the brittle crust, and 0.85 at shallow depths (?s < 200).

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

You might also like to view...

The Endangered Species Act

A) protects critical habitats of threatened and endangered species, but it cannot control privately held lands. B) includes species recovery plans intended to help listed species survive and thrive. C) currently protects animal but not plant species. D) has resulted in the recovery of more than 1,000 species that have been taken off the list.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Some environmental changes that occur on Earth accumulate very slowly so that careful scientific study over the long term is required to understand what is occurring

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Orographic precipitation occurs on mountainous coasts exposed to moist trade winds or frequent cyclonic storms.

a. true b. false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

When a hurricane moves onto land, it rapidly loses its punch; that is, the storm declines in intensity. Which of the factors listed below contribute to this loss of punch?

A) heating from below by the land surface B) formations of mesocyclones within the storm disrupt the circulation C) lack of warm, moist air to feed latent heat driven convection D) disruption of outflow by strong winds aloft from the jet stream

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences