Static friction is the force that prevents an object from moving when it is at rest. It acts between two surfaces in contact, such as a book on a table. This force must be overcome for the object to start moving, and it varies depending on the materials involved and the weight of the object. The maximum static friction force is determined by the coefficient of static friction, which is a property of the materials in contact. Once the applied force exceeds this maximum, the object will begin to slide, transitioning to kinetic friction, which is usually lower than static friction.