Experiment 102

Friction

Analysis
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid
layers, and material elements sliding against each other. There are many types of
friction like fluid friction, friction present between layers of a viscous fluid that are
moving relative to each other, and dry friction which resists lateral motion of two
solid surfaces in contact and it has to kinds: Static friction between non-moving
surfaces and Kinetic friction between moving surfaces. Another type of friction is
lubricated friction that is a case of fluid friction where a fluid separates two solid
surfaces. Skin friction which is a component of drag –a force resisting motion of a
fluid across the surface of a body. Lastly, there is internal friction, which is a force
resisting motion between the elements making up a solid material while it undergoes
deformation and sliding friction. Friction alone is not a fundamental force but arises
from fundamental electromagnetic forces between the charged particles
constituting the two contacting surfaces.

These complex interactions make the calculation of friction from first

principles impractical and necessitates the use of empirical methods of analysis and
the development of theory. The work done by friction can transform into
deformation, wear, and heat that can affect the contact surface properties. Whenever
work due to friction rises to unacceptable levels, excessive erosion or wear of
mating sliding surfaces. Harder corrosion particles caught between mating surfaces
in relative motion exacerbates wear of frictional forces, and the bearing or failure
may result from excessive wear due to work-friction.

A Coefficient of Friction (µ) is a value that shows the relationship between

the force of friction between two objects and the normal reaction between
the objects that are involved. It is a value that is sometimes used in physics to find
an object's normal force or frictional force when other methods are unavailable.
Moreover, dimensionless scalar value which describes the ratio of the force of friction
between two bodies and the force pressing them together.

Frictional force is found to be directly proportional to the normal force (N)

which is mathematically expressed as:
 faN
f=kN (Equation 1)
The coefficient of friction (µ) takes the place of k which is the constant of
proportionally. Thus:
f =µ N (Equation 2)
Angle of Repose (θ) refers to the maximum angle at which an object can rest on an
inclined plane without sliding down. Also it is calculated by measuring the vertical height
and horizontal distance of a plane at which an object’s static state is disrupted.

Figure 1.

In Figure 1 above, a block of weight W slides down the inclined plane with
uniform motion.
Along the y- axis : ∑ 𝐹y = 0, N – W cos 𝜃 = 0
Along the x- axis : ∑ 𝐹x = 0, W sin 𝜃 - f = 0
𝑓 𝑊 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Coefficient of friction, µ= = , 𝜇 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 (Equation 3)
𝑁 𝑊 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Thus, the coefficient of friction is equal to the tangent of the angle of repose.

The materials that were used in this experiment are:

 1.5 m string
 1 pc meter stick
 1 pc mass hanger
 1 pc block (with different surfaces)
  1 pc digital balance
 1 pc dynamics track with pulley
 1 set weights

The objectives of this experiment are to determine the friction coefficient (µ) in
contact between different surfaces as one body moves with uniform motion against
the other and set the relationship between the angle of repose (θ) and µ.
First part of this experiment was Determination of the coefficient of Friction.
The first procedure is to position the track horizontally. Next is to measure the
weight of the block Wb and weight of the pan Wp using the digital balance. Then,
tie one end of the string to the block’s hook and the other end to the pan passing
over the pulley of the plane. Make necessary adjustment on the length of the string
so that the block will have a room for displacement along the plane’s surface.
Choose a surface of the block (wooden or felt surface). Place the large side of the
block on top of the track. Slowly add weights on the pan until you observer a
uniform sliding motion of the block along the plane. Record the total weight of the
pan on the data sheet. Repeat steps 4 by adding weights on top of the block and
also adjusting the weights on the pan until the block moves with uniform sliding
motion. Make 5 trials increasing the total weight of the block each trial. Calculate
µ for each trial and finally determine its average value. After recording data sheet,
plot Wb along the x-axis and Wp along the y-axis. Get the slope of the line. Repeat
steps 1 to 7 butg use the narrow side of the block for the 5 trials.
Second part of the experiment was Determination of the Angle of Repose. The
first procedure is remove the string that is tied to the block then place the block,
facing its wider side, to the center of the track’s surface. Next is, gradually incline
the plane until such time that you observe it slide down the plane with uniform
motion. Then, measure and record the vertical height (h) and horizontal base (b).
Compare the angle of repose using tan = 𝜃 = ℎ/𝑏. Lastly, compare tan 𝜃 and the
average value of µ you obtained in the first part.
 Determination of the Coefficient of Friction
TABLE 1a. (large side of the block) TABLE 1b. (narrow side of the block)

(total (total weight of Coefficient (total weight (total weight Coefficient

weight of the pan) of friction of the block) of the pan) of friction
the block) Wb
Wp µ Wp µ
Wb

178.2 g 50 g 0.2805 133.2 45 0.3379

143.2 g 50 g 0.3491 143.2 50 0.3492

148.2 g 55 g 0.3711 148.2 50 0.3324

153.2 g 60 g 0.3916 153.2 55 0.3590

158.2 g 65 g 0.4108 158.2 55 0.3477

Average Coefficient of Friction µ = 0.3606 Average Coefficient of Friction µ = 0.3452

Determination of the Angle of Repose

TABLE 1a. (large side of the block) TABLE 1b. (narrow side of the block)

Vertical height Horizontal distance tan 𝜃 𝜃

h b

44 cm 90 cm 0.4911 20
Conclusion
In conclusion, throughout this experiment, the study participants were able
to identify the coefficient of friction between contact surfaces as one body moves
with uniform movement and form a relationship between the angle of rest
(available) and the friction coefficient (μ).
Moreover, in many engineering disciplines such as transport and
measurement, friction is an important factor. Automobiles rely inherently on
friction for transport, slowing down a vehicle by converting their kinetic energy
into heat. By either the way, it is one technical challenge to safely disperse this
large amount of heat when designing brake systems. Friction can also be used for
heating and igniting matchsticks. Anyone who moves, in one way or another,
experiences an opposing force in contact with either the air or another body. This
force tends to hold back the body's motion.
We also observed the friction process in the experiment based on the data
collected. It showed that there is a direct proportionality between the angle of rest
(quantity) and friction (μ) coefficient. As well as the weight of the pan plus weight
added and the weight of the block plus weight added a direct proportionality. It has
also been shown that the contact area does not affect the friction coefficient. Based
on data collected, area doesn't really greatly reduce the value of the friction
coefficient given the fact that in minimal aspects the values differ. To have a
constant value for the friction coefficient, it is strictly necessary to observe uniform
motion through constant speed. Based on the Isaac Newton's 1st Law of Motion, if
an object does not experience net force, its speed is constant. Therefore, vertical
and horizontal summations of forces are zero. Then we can calculate for the
friction coefficient.