Can how hard surfaces push together determine the strength of the frictional force?

Yes, the degree to which surfaces push together, known as the normal force, significantly influences the strength of the frictional force. According to the frictional force equation ( F_f = \mu F_n ), where ( \mu ) is the coefficient of friction and ( F_n ) is the normal force, an increase in the normal force results in a higher frictional force. Therefore, the harder the surfaces are pressed together, the stronger the frictional force will be.