Which of the following statements is false?

The statement that kinetic friction is greater than static friction is false. In fact, static friction typically has a greater maximum value than kinetic friction. Static friction is the force that must be overcome to initiate motion between two surfaces that are in contact and at rest relative to each other. Once motion begins, the frictional force opposing the movement becomes kinetic friction, which is usually less than the maximum static friction.

This concept is crucial in understanding how objects behave when force is applied to them. For example, when pushing a heavy object, you often find it easier to keep it moving once it's in motion rather than trying to start moving it from a standstill, illustrating the difference between static and kinetic friction.

In this context, the other statements are true. Kinetic friction does not depend on the speed of the object, meaning it remains relatively constant regardless of how fast the object is sliding across another surface. Kinetic friction being greater than rolling friction is also accurate, as rolling friction is generally significantly lower than both static and kinetic friction due to the nature of rolling motion requiring less force to initiate movement. The relative roughness of surfaces indeed affects frictional forces; rougher surfaces typically increase friction, while smoother surfaces decrease it.