Catherine Linsley

Physics 113 L
Lab report 5
Friction, Work and the Conservation of Energy
I.
Abstract
In this experiment, we sought out to demonstrate the equilibrium of
forces acting on a uniformly moving object when one of the forces is
due to friction, and to show how the conservation of energy applies to
this situation. Weights were added to the end of the string attached to
the block until its mass overcame the force of friction and gravity and
slid up the incline plane. By using the conservation of energy equation,
we determined the friction and amount of work done on the block
moving both up and down the inclined plane. The error of work
calculated was relatively high at 66.7%, the error of friction however
was low at 30.7%.
II.
Introduction
In this lab, we utilized the conservation of energy equations to prove
that energy is conserved in particular types of systems. The block that
slides along the inclined plane is acted upon by three forces: the force
of gravity W, the plane on the block P, and the force of the tension in
the string T. These forces all sum to zero since the block moves at a
constant velocity with no acceleration.
W + P+T =0
(1)
We use several equations to find the force of friction f between the
plane and the block. At low speeds, the magnitude of the friction force
is constant. We can use these equations to find the angle of inclination
for the block moving both up and down the plane, since the magnitude
is independent of the direction of motion
W sin =T u|f |
(2)
W sin =T u +|f |
(3)
By subtracting equations (2) and (3), we can solve for the force
of friction:
(T T )
|f |= u d
2
(4)
Through addition and the elimination of the force of friction f, by
using the following, the value for W sin can be determined if terms
of the two tension forces produced by the weights hanging on the
string.

|W sin |=

(T d +T u )
2

(5)
As the block moves at a constant speed, the potential energy is
changing while the kinetic energy remains constant. The net loss of
potential energy in the system is defined by the left side of the
equation, which must be equal to the work done by the system f s .
T u smgh= f s
(6)
III.
Methods and Materials
First, we inclined the plane at an angle so much that the block when
unattached could accelerate down the plane. We were able to
determine the value sin using trigonometric calculations. After
measuring the mass of the block we were able to determine the force
of friction on the sliding block by applying equation (4) with the values
of the Tension in the string of the block moving up, and down. Next,
using equation (5) we determined the value W for the work done by
the system, followed by the percent deviation. In order to find the loss
in potential energy and work, we measured the height the block
vertically rose and the distance the weight falls. We also used these
values to find the gain in potential energy and the net less in potential
energy of the system using equation (6). Lastly, we calculated the
percent deviation between the net less, and the work done by friction
when the block moved a distance up the plane.
IV.
Results
Table 1. Data from Exercise 1 and 2
Force of friction
1225N
Value of Wsin theta
1421 N
Percent deviation
30.70%
Table 2. Data from Exercise 3
Loss in potential Energy
Gain in potential Energy
Net loss in Potential Energy
Percent deviation

428.122 N
331.779N
595.44 N
66.7%

V.
Discussion
We successfully calculated the force of friction acting on the sliding
block as it moved with a constant acceleration both up and down the
incline plane, as well as the net loss in potential energy and the work
done by the system. The percent deviation of the force of friction was
30.70% and the deviation in the net loss in potential energy and the
work done by friction was 66.7%. While the deviation of the force of

friction was relatively low, the deviation between work and potential
energy was high. Theoretically, the net loss in potential energy should
equal the work done by friction.
This experiment had many opportunities for human error, as it
was highly inaccurate. All of the calculations we did were based on the
original measurements of the forces of tension as the block moved up
and down the plane. Each time, we were to determine the correct
tension force so that the block moved at a constant velocity, with zero
acceleration. However, there was no other way to measure that this
was the case of the system other than human interpretation. Its highly
possible that we interpreted the system to be moving at a constant
velocity incorrectly, leading to high levels of error.
The equation the expresses the equilibrium of forces on a nonaccelerating body can be broken down into its own respective
components of force parallel and perpendicular to the plane. Together,
they all vector sum to zero. These two equations really only differ in
the type of energy that is involved, but both equations involve the
system at any point being constant.