MECHANICS LAB .

roughness, which causes friction. The

LAB 9 SLIDING FRICTION

friction force must be overcome before the

TO VERIFY THE LAW OF

sliding take place (figure 1)

FRICTION
Nur Syamiza Binti Zamri , FA14030 ,
Faculty Of Manufacturing Engineering
, Universiti Malaysia Pahang

Figure 1: Force acting when pushing a

block

Abstract

In practice, it is known that the friction

The objective of this experiment is to

verify the law of friction and to measure
the coefficient of friction for different
materials. The wooden block has a layer of

force is proportionate to the force that

presses the surfaces of contact. This
proportion is called the Coefficient of
Friction

which

is

denoted

by

the

sand paper P180 , sand paper P800 and

rubber , hence the experiment was
conducted on rubber mounting plane to

movement from rest is called the static

friction.

compare the result .From the result we can

compare about area of contact between
two surface , pressure between two surface
and coefficient of friction between two
materials. So, the increasing of contact
surface will increase the friction . Other
than that , the increases the pressure will
make block difficult to move . Lastly ,

coefficient of friction of material can be

Law 1:

determine in this experiment .

When object is moving, the friction is

1) Introduction

proportional and perpendicular to the

When two rough surfaces are made to

normal force.

slide over each other, the uneven surface

Law 2:

resists the sliding. Sometime, the force is

Friction is dependent of the area of contact

large enough to cause some materials on

so long as there is an area of contact.

the surface to tear away. In reality, even

smooth

surface

have

microscopic

Law 3:

3. Hung the plumb line over the protractor

The coefficient of static friction is slightly

center screw and ensure that the plane is

greater than the coefficient of kinetic

horizontal.

friction.

4. Weighted the friction block with spring

Law 4:

balance and recorded its weight.

Wihtin rather large limits, kinetic friction

5. Placed the friction block at the left end

is independent if velocity.

of the plane with the wood surface

Law 5:

downwards and assembled the cord over

Friction depends upon the nature of the

the pulley.

surface in contact

6. Attached the 0.1N weight hook to the

end of the cord.

1) Apparatus
No

Apparatus

Friction

Quantity

Picture

block w/cord
2

Spring

10N

balance
3

Knurled nuts

Friction plate

Plastic

Hanger
6

Slotted Mass

3.2 Test 1 (Rubber on rubber)

1

Set

1. Placed weights on the hook.

2. Gave the block a starting pushed as each
weight is applied until the weight is

3) Procedure

sufficient to pull the block along the plane

3.1 Preparation

with a slow uniform speed.

1. Secured the mounting panel in the

3. Recorded your results.

vertical position.
2. Mounted the assembly by placing the

3.3 Test 2 (Rubber on rubber)

stud through the H4 hole, the stud on the

1. Repeated Test 1 but do not assist the

column through C8. Secured with nuts .

block by pushing it.

2. Placed weights on the hook (very
carefully) until the block began to move.

3. As soon as the static friction is

3.7 Test 6 (Rubber on sand paper P180)

overcome, the block move quickly along

1. Turn the friction plate over, placed the

the plane.

rubber side upwards to give metal to

4. Recorded your result.

rubber contact between the block and

plate.

3.4 Test 3 (Rubber on rubber ) effect of

2. Because the friction is so great, you will

area of contact

find it more difficult to judge the force

1. Turn the block on its narrow side.

required.

2. Tested for Test 1 and recorded your

3. Aim at causing the block to move at a

result.

constant speed along the length of the

3. Repeated for the other narrow side of

plane.

the block.

4. Repeated as for Test 4 and record your

4. Recorded your result.

results.

3.5 Test 4 (Rubber on rubber)

1. Replaced the friction block in its

4) Result and Calculation

4.1 Result

original position as for Test 1.

2. Added loads of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4N to

Preparation

the friction block (place on top of its peg)

Mass of Block = 90 g

and found the equivalent forces to

Weight of Block = 1N

overcome kinetic friction.

3. Recorded your results.

3.6 Test 5 (Rubber on sand paper P800)

Test 1(Rubber on rubber)

Mass

Total

Friction

applied (g)

weight (N)

weight

1. Placed the friction plate on the plane

movement

between the stops.

70

0.8

Not moving

2. With its metal side upwards, reversed

80

0.9

Not moving

the loading peg in the friction block and

90

1.0

Moving with

placed it on the plate with its metal side

uniform speed

downwards to give a metal to metal

contact.
3. Repeated as for Test 4 and recorded
your result.

100

1.1

Moving with
fast

Test 2 (Rubber on rubber)

Test 4(Rubber on rubber)

Mass

Total

Friction

Load added on peg Total load needed to

applied (g)

weight (N)

weight

(N)

move the block (N)

movement

0.6

1.6

80

0.9

Not moving

1.1

1.8

90

1.0

Not moving

1.6

2.3

100

1.1

Moving with

2.1

3.0

uniform speed

2.6

3.4

Moving with

Test 5(Rubber on sand paper P800-

fast

more smooth)

110

1.2

Load added on peg Total load needed to

Test 3(Rubber on rubber ) effect of area

(N)

move the block (N)

of contact

0.6

1.18

Mass

Total

Narrow

Narrow

1.1

1.37

applied

weight

side 1

side 2

1.6

1.67

(g)

(N)

Friction

Friction

2.1

1.77

weight

weight

2.6

1.86

movement

movement

Not

Not

Test 6(Rubber on sand paper P180)

moving

moving

Load added on peg Total load needed to

Moving

Moving

(N)

move the block (N)

with

with

0.6

0.98

uniform

uniform

1.1

1.57

speed

speed

1.6

2.16

2.1

3.04

2.6

4.12

90

100

110

1.0

1.1

1.2

Moving

Moving

with fast

with fast

4.2 Calculation
Test 4

5) Discussion
1. From your result, write down the laws
of friction. State how friction is affected
by
Law 1:
When object is moving, the friction is
proportional and perpendicular to the
normal force.
Law 2:
Friction is dependent of the area of contact
so long as there is an area of contact.

Test 5

Law 3:
The coefficient of static friction is slightly
greater than the coefficient of kinetic
friction.

Law 4:
Within rather large limits, kinetic friction
is independent if velocity.
Law 5:
Test 6

Friction depends upon the nature of the

surface in contact.

the area of contact between the two

surfaces,
Friction is affected by the area of the
contact between two surfaces because of
the normal forces available on the object
and the roughness of those surfaces.

the pressure between the two surfaces.

For low surface pressure the friction is
directly proportional

to the pressure

between the surfaces. As the pressure rises

the friction factor rises slightly. A very

the frictional force associated with the

high pressure the friction factor then

rotational movement of a somewhat

quickly increases to seizing.

disclike or other circular object along a

surface. Generally the frictional force of

2. Explain the difference between the static

rolling friction is less than that associated

and kinetic friction.

with sliding kinetic friction.[2] . Surface

roughness and contact area affect kinetic

Static friction results when surface of two

friction for micro- and nano-scale objects

objects are at rest relative to one another

where surface area forces dominate inertial

and a force exists on one of the objects to

forces.[3] Other than that , the increases the

set it into motion relative to other object,

pressure will make block difficult to move

such as either at rest or rolling.

. Lastly , coefficient of friction of material

can be determine in this experiment .

Kinetic friction results when an object

moves across a surface.

7) References
1) "friction". Merriam-Webster

3. Give a good practical example when

friction is an advantage and when it is a
disadvantage.

Dictionary.
2) Benjamin Silliman, Principles
of

Physics,

Or

Natural

Philosophy,

Ivison,

The advantages of friction are that may

Blakeman,

help in walking and braking system. The

company

drawback of friction is it may make

pages {1871)

movement more difficult if it is too high

and may waste energy.

Taylor

&

publishers,

710

3) Persson, B. N. J. (2000).
Sliding

friction:

physical

principles and applications.

6) Conclusion

Springer.

ISBN 978-3-540-

Friction is the force resisting the relative

67192-3. Retrieved 2016-01-

motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and

23.

material elements sliding against each

other.[1] As a conclusion , the increasing of
contact surface will increase the friction .
Sliding may occur between two objects of
arbitrary shape, whereas rolling friction is