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Friction
Force that resists the relative motion of surfaces is called friction. Solid, liquid and air; all types
of surface offer the force of friction. The force of friction always applies in the opposite direction
of movement. Friction is applied when two surfaces in contact move relative to each other.
Example :
A moving ball on the ground stops after covering a certain distance. Ball stops after covering a
short distance because surface of ground offers friction to the surface of ball in motion. Since,
friction acts in the opposite direction of movement of ball, so the ball stops after covering a
certain distance.
When a person applies brakes to a moving bicycle, the surface of brakes offers friction to the
surface of moving wheel and the bicycle stops because of friction.

Factors that affect friction

A surface offers friction because of irregularities over the surface. A surface may appear smooth
but microscopic view shows those irregularities. The irregularities of two surfaces get
interlocked when in contact. To remove the interlocking, a surface offers friction when it slides
or rolls over another surface.
Thus, rougher surface offers more force of friction.
Friction increases with increase in weight. In the case of increase in weight irregularities between
surfaces get interlocked tightly because of pressure, and the surface offers more resistance of
friction.
For example
It is easy to roll or slide a lighter wooden box over ground than a heavier one.
It is easy to drag a mat over ground. But to drag the same mat becomes difficult; with someone
sitting over it. This happens because friction increases with increase in weight.

Sliding Friction:
When a surface slides over another surface, the resistance to its motion is called sliding friction.
For example; sliding of mat or a box over ground.
Rolling Friction:

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When a surface rolls over another surface, the resistance to its motion is called rolling friction.
Rolling friction is smaller than sliding friction. This is the cause that to roll anything over the
ground is easier than to slide.
Example
Luggage is fitted with wheels, so that one can roll the luggage easily.
Ball bearings are fitted between hub and axle of bicycles to make the movement easier.
FRICTION: A NECESSARY EVIL

Friction has both harmful and beneficial effects and hence it is called a necessary evil.
One can walk because ground offers friction. In the case of less friction walking becomes almost
impossible. Thus, friction is necessary even a simple task like walking.
Example
A person slips over the banana peel. This happens because banana peels have slippery surface
and it offers very less friction to the ground. Thus whenever banana peel comes under the feet of
a person, the person may slip and trip over because of less friction.
It is difficult to walk over muddy surface. This is because muddy surface offers very small
friction to the surface of feet of a person.
Soles of shoes have grooves on them. Grooved soles offer more friction to the ground which
gives better grip while walking. Shoes with worn out soles can be slippery.
The tyres of vehicles have treads for better grip over road. When treads are worn out, the tyres
need to be replaced with new one.
Writing with pen is possible because paper offers friction to the tip of pen.
On oily paper, friction is very less and so it is difficult write on such paper.
While writing with chalk over black board, the rough surface of the black board rubs off the
chalk because of which some of the particles of chalk get stuck with black board and writing
becomes possible.
INCREASE OF FRICTION:

Since, friction is necessary for us, therefore many a time friction is increased to accomplish a
task.
Example
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Tyres are treaded to increase friction. Vehicle with treads on tyres offer mores friction which
gives better road grip.
Soles of shoes are treaded to increase friction.
Javelin thrower rubs some powder on his palm to get better grip on the javelin.
REDUCTION OF FRICTION:
Sometimes, it is necessary to reduce the undesirable friction. Lubricants make a thin layer over
surface and facilitate easy movement. In the engines of vehicles, use of lubricants increases the
efficiency as parts are not rubbed directly over one another because of thin layer of lubricant. In
many machines, graphite powder or air is used as lubricant.
Example
While playing carom, talcum powder is sprayed over it to reduce friction.
Lubricant is used to reduce friction in engines, such as engine oil is used in the engine of
motorcycle, car, truck, etc. Grease is used over the chain of bicycles.
FLUID FRICTION:
Gas and liquids are considered as fluid. Similar to solid, fluids also offer friction. The friction of
fluid increases with the speed of object moving through it; and speed of fluid.
Object which are made to move in fluid are made like boat-shaped to reduce friction offered by
fluid. The shape of aeroplane, ship and boat is made streamlined. Birds and fish also have
streamlined shape. A shape which is pointed on both ends and wide at the middle is called
streamlined shape. Such a shape facilitates easier movement through fluids.
The friction offered by fluids is called drag.

Friction
Solution of NCERT Exercise

Question: 1. Fill in the blanks:

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(a) Friction opposes the _____________ between the surfaces in contact with each other.
Answer: Movement
(b) Friction depends on the _____________ of surfaces.
Answer: Irregularities
(c) Friction produces __________.
Answer: Heat
(d) Sprinkling of powder on the carrom board ________ friction.
Answer: Reduce
(e) Sliding friction is ___________ than the static friction.
Answer: less
Question: 2. Four children were asked to arrange forces due to rolling, static and sliding frictions
in a decreasing order. Their arrangements are given below.
Choose the correct arrangement.
(a) Rolling, static, sliding
(b) Rolling, sliding, static
(c) Static, sliding, rolling
(d) Sliding, static, rolling
Answer: (c) Static, sliding, rolling
Question: 3. Alida runs her toy car on dry marble floor, wet marble floor, newspaper and towel
spread on the floor. The force of friction acting on the car on different surfaces in increasing
order will be :
(a) Wet marble floor, dry marble floor, newspaper and towel.
(b) Newspaper, towel, dry marble floor, wet marble floor.
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(c) Towel, newspaper, dry marble floor, wet marble floor.
(d) Wet marble floor, dry marble floor, towel, newspaper
Answer: (a) Wet marble floor, dry marble floor, newspaper and towel.
Question: 4. Suppose your writing desk is tilted a little. A book kept on it starts sliding down.
Show the direction of frictional force acting on it.
Answer:

Question: 5. You spill a bucket of soapy water on a marble floor accidently. Would it make it
easier or more difficult for you to walk on the floor? Why?
Answer: The soapy water would make a thin layer over the marble floor. This will reduce
friction. Hence, walking on the floor shall be difficult in that case.
Question: 6. Explain why sportsmen use shoes with spikes.
Answer: Shoes with spikes offer more friction because of more irregularities in the surface. This
gives better grip to sportsmen while running.
Question: 7. Iqbal has to push a lighter box and Seema has to push a similar heavier box on the
same floor. Who will have to apply a larger force and why?
Answer: Seema has to apply larger force, because friction increases with increase in weight.
Question: 8. Explain why the sliding friction is less than the static friction.
Answer: When something is static, a greater force is required to break the interlocking between
two surfaces. When something is in motion, there is no need to break the interlocking and a
smaller force is required the keep the object in motion. Hence, sliding friction is less than static
friction.
Question: 9. Give examples to show that friction is both a friend and a foe.
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Answer: Following two examples show that friction is both a friend and a foe:

Because of friction a vehicle can be stopped and we can walk, thus friction is
a friend.

Friction wears out the parts of machine, thus friction is a foe.

Question: 10. Explain why objects moving in fluids must have special shapes.
Answer:
The streamlined shape encounters less resistance while moving through a fluid. This is not true
for other shapes. So, objects moving in the fluids must have special shapes like boat or fish.

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