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LAB5

INDUS UNIVERSITY
B.S Textile Evening
Semester : 04
Assignment : 01
Textile Mechanics
Mirza Ubaid Baig

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LAB 5

To Determine the Co-efficient of Static Friction of a Fabric on a

Horizontal Stainless Steel Plane
Performance Objective
Upon successful completion of this experiment the student will be able to:
i)
ii)
iii)

Understand what is friction and its behaviour.

Measure co-efficient of friction on a horizontal plane.
Have clear concept of the static friction between two contacting surfaces.

Apparatus
Horizontal Stainless Steel Surface with a frictionless pulley, Wooden Block, Piece of
string, Fabric to be tested, Weighing Pan and Weight Box.
Discussion / Theory
The friction is the force that opposes the motion or tendency of motion of an object
when the object is an contact with another object or surface. Friction is essential for
various holding and fastening devices as well as for friction drives and brakes and
even for supplying the traction for walking or driving automobiles. It has some
disadvantages also; it causes lose of power and / or wear.

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LAB 5

The magnitude of the frictional force F is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
resultant normal force N. The resultant normal force is a contacting force because of
which to surface are in contact. When the contact of two surface is horizontal, the
magnitude of the normal force is equal to the weight of upper body. Fig 5.1 illustrates
the contact of two surface horizontally.
F~N
Or

F=N

Where = Co-efficient of friction

The co-efficient of static friction between two stationary surfaces is defined as the
ratio of limiting frictional force of resistance opposing their relative motion to the
force, measured perpendicular to the common point or plane of contact, pressing the
two together:
=F/N
Procedure / Method
1. Cover the wooden block with the fabric on be tested in such a way that the
surface of fabric must be free from crease and weigh it. The magnitude of
its weight is equal to the magnitude of normal force N.
2. Place the wooden block on the horizontal stainless steel surface attach the
string on one side of wooden block, pass it over pulley and attach a weighing
pan on the other end of the other end of the string as show in Fig.5.2.
3. Now place some weight on the weighing pan.
4. After placing some weight check friction of fabric surface on the horizontal
stainless steel surface by taping.
5. If wooden block moves by taping then note the magnitude of force exerted by
total weight of weighing pan ( i.e. the magnitude of limiting frictional force F)
and the magnitude of resultant normal force N ( i.e the magnitude of total
weight exerted on stainless steel surface by wooden block).
6. Calculate the co-efficient of static friction by using equation 5.1.
7. Repeat above procedure five times by increasing the weight of wooden block.
8. Calculate the average co-efficient of static friction.

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LAB 5

Calculation
Co-efficient of static friction = = F / N
Average =/n, where n is number of observations
Test Report / Result
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Fabric Specifications
Resultant Normal Force.
Frictional Force.
Co-efficient of static friction.
Average Co-efficient of friction.

Fabric Specification
i)
ii)
iii)

Material (Fiber)
Construction
Condition (Grey / Treated / Dyed / Printed / Finished)
If finished, specify type of finish.

Observation
No.

Normal Force = N
(Newtons)

Frictional Force = F
(Newtons)

0.72

3.36

Co-efficient of static friction

= F/N
0.72 / 3.36 = 0.22

2
3
4
5
Average

Review Questions
1. What do understand by static friction and kinetic friction?
The functional force between two surface exeting its maximum ability is known as
static frictional force present between moving object & the surface is known as I >.E

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LAB 5

2. What is the influence of Physical properties of contacting on co-efficient of

friction?
Physical properties unevenness m,s, surface area would lead to increase in a
co-efficient of friction. If these quantities are increased other wise they would
do lead converse effecting on the co-efficient of friction.
3. What is the effect of fabric construction and material on its co-efficient of
friction?
Fabric construction and type of material effect on the value of co-efficient of
friction (M). If the fabric are knitted fabric contains impurities the M his hizhric
4. Why taping is done to initiate motion of the block when pulley is used
Some time fractional forces becomes equal to the normal force but the body
remains of rest. Such that it produced frictional due to unevenness of surface
so toping is done to reduce or minimize the friction of pulley.
Final Checklist
1. Clean your apparatus and workbench before you leave.
2. Keep the apparatus back to their proper places.
3. Submit your answers to questions and results before the next laboratory
experiment according to the time table.