Friction

Performed by: Babatuande, Kai, Ryan, Jason

Instructor: Dr. Martin Okafor
09/16/10
Overview

Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, or material
elements sliding against each other. All objects resting on a surface, any attempt to move the
object will be opposed by a force of friction. The constant of proportionality, µ, is the coefficient
of friction and , is the coefficient of static friction. In motion, the object is slowed by the force

of kinetic friction, . In this experiment we examined the block ) resting on top of a

horizontal level track surface as the connected mass ) hanging over a pulley drops from a
measured height. We measured the velocity of the accelerating block using the photogate/pulley
system and the acceleration of the block from the graph display. Using the formulas and the tools
given, (photogate, balance, friction block w/ hook, super pulley w/ clamp, mass and hanger set,
string, universal table clamp, track system), we apply surface area, changes in degrees of
inclination, and additional masses, to figure out how friction effects the block ) shifts as the

mass ) falls.

Theory

Friction is the force that resists the relative motion of one surface in contact
with another. There are two types of friction: static and kinetic. Usually, the
kinetic frictional force is less than the maximum value of the static frictional
force. The static frictional force is given by f s = sF N and the kinetic

frictional force is given by f k = kF N , where s is the coefficient of static

friction, k is the coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the normal force. By
inclining the surface the coefficient of static friction will also be determined
from the limiting angle of repose. Secondly, by using the equation k= g–(

- a/ the coefficient of kinetic friction can be determined.

Procedures
We begin by setting up the track system by attaching the photogate. Then, we first take the mass of the
wooden block in order to calculate our normal force (n). After we repeat the same for the hanger so we
can take that into the account for the total mass on hanger. As we proceed, we slowly place the masses on
the hanger nice and slow, so we can eliminate any additional force that might trigger the block from
moving. For the same experiment, we repeat for 4 times but we add an additional 100g on each
consecutive runs. In Procedure 4, we repeat the last experiment with extra mass on hanger. After each run
the photogate will allow us to acquire its acceleration and with these as our known we can calculate our
µk. Our next procedure was to place the block on the narrow side to repeat the steps as the last run. For
our last procedure, we used the inclinometer to measure the angle which the block starts moving.

Analysis of Data
Weight of the block: 1.043

Weight of the mass hanger: 0.0539

Coefficient of Static Friction – Wide, Smooth Surface

Data Table #1

Total Mass on Total Mass on Normal Force (N) Force of Static

Block (kg) Hanger (kg) Friction(fs)
0g .0215 1.043 .2107
100g .0585 2.018 .5733
200g .0735 2.998 .7203
300g .1155 3.978 1.132
400g .1355 4.958 1.328

Coefficient of Kinetic Friction – Wide, Smooth Surface

Data Table #2

Procedure P4 Total Mass on Total Mass on Aexp µk coefficient Deviation

Block (g) Hanger (kg) acceleration of friction
(m/s2)
Run #1 0g .0455 .838 .305
Run #2 100g .1055 1.38 .298 .00495
Run #3 200g .1455 1.31 .278 .01401
Run #4 300g .2055 1.33 .301 .01201
Run #5 400g .2155 1.00 .280 .01250
Averages: .292 .01086
Coefficient of Kinetic Friction – Different Surface Area

Data Table #3

Block on the Total Mass on Total Mass on Aexp acceleration µk coefficient of

Narrow Side Block (g) Hanger (kg) (m/s2) friction
Run #6 400g .2155 1.03 .276

Coefficient of Static Friction – The Limiting Angle of Repose

Data Table #4

Trial Limiting angle of µs coefficient of static Deviation

repose, θmax friction
#1 8 .141
#2 7 .123 0.01273
#3 6 .105 0.018
Averages: 7 .123 0.01537

Graphs & Diagrams

Coefficient of Static Friction, µs, from graph: .267

Calculations
Data Table #1 Calculations

• Normal force

N – M1g = 0

N=.1064*9.8=1.043

N=1.043

• Static Friction

T – f= M1a (a=0 since static friction does not have acceleration)

T – f= 0 T= M2g came from our second free body diagram

Fs= M2g

Fs=.0215*9.8

Table #2 Calculations

µk = [(.1055*9.8)-(.2064+.1055)1.38] ÷ (.2064*9.8)

µk = .298

• Aexp: we obtained our acceleration from the use of the photogate which calculated the acceleration
of the block.

• Deviation=

Data Table #3 Calculations:

• Percent Difference
 There is 5.6% percent difference between the narrow side and the largest side of the wooden
block.

Coefficient of Static Friction – The Limiting Angle of Repose

Data Table #4

Trial Limiting angle of µs coefficient of static Deviation

repose, θmax friction
#1 8 .141
#2 7 .123 0.01273
#3 6 .105 0.018
Averages: 7 .123 0.01537

Questions

1. Explain in your own words why you must be very careful when placing additional masses
on the hanger in Procedure P3 to find when the block just begins to slide without any
initial push?

Well, in order to find when the block begins to slide without an initial push then we must
slowly and carefully placing those weights on the hanger, because if we don’t there
would be additional force toward M2 that affects our data.

2. How does the coefficient of friction vary when the mass of the block was increased
(thereby increasing the normal force)?

The coefficient of friction is proportional to the mass added to the block, the more weight
added to the block then we would need more force to overcome the static friction.

3. When the mass of the block is increased, does the force of kinetic friction increase?
Why?
 Yes, because everything is proportional, the more mass added to the block, the more
kinetic friction there is to keep the block from moving when its already in motion.

4. How does the coefficient of kinetic friction vary with the area of contact between the
block and the horizontal surface? Is there any significant difference between the
coefficient of kinetic friction determined when the block was placed on its largest sided
or when it was on its narrow side?

The coefficient of kinetic friction does not vary with the area of contact between the
block and the horizontal surface. There was no significant difference between the
coefficients of kinetic friction determined when the block was placed on its largest side or
when it was on its narrow side.

5. When the area of contact between the block and the horizontal surface is increased, does
the force of kinetic friction increase? Why? What is the implication of this result in
designing the widths of automobile tires?

Since the amount of kinetic friction is determined by the coefficient of kinetic friction
and the mass of the object the surface area does not affect it in any way. When designing
the widths of automobile tires on the other hand the friction increases as the size of the
car increases. Since the increase in friction is proportional to the increase in mass a
larger automobile would mean more kinetic friction. However, the reason for the size of
tires on larger automobiles is that fact that a smaller tire would not be able to handle the
mass of the larger vehicles and therefore the surface area increases to distribute the
amount of force the mass of the automobile acts on the surface.

6. Using the average value of the limiting angle of repose in the Data Table #4 from
Procedure P6, and the value of the coefficient of kinetic friction from Procedure P4,
 calculate the acceleration of the block after it begins to slide down the incline in
Procedure P6.

To calculate the acceleration of the block after it begins to slide down the incline we will
use the equation:

(-µ mgcosƟ+mgsinƟ)
a= k m /
When we input our values from our data recorded we find that our a = -1.65 m /s2 (the
value acquired is negative due to the object moving in a negative direction).

Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that to overcome static friction we must have more force to begin accelerating
the object due to static friction. Since the object is already in motion, it would require less force to
maintain the state of motion. From our recorded data, both static and kinetic friction is proportional to the
mass of the object and that the objects surface area will not affect the friction at all. In the end, friction
occurs in many parts of our live like bowling, car on the road, and dragging heavy objects across a carpet
floor.