Chapter 4B.

Friction and
Equilibrium
A PowerPoint Presentation by
Paul E. Tippens, Professor of
Physics
Southern Polytechnic State
2007
University

Equilibrium: Until motion

begins, all forces on the
mower are balanced.
Friction in wheel bearings
and on the ground oppose
the lateral motion.

Objectives: After completing

this module, you should be
able
to:
Define and calculate the coefficients of

Define and calculate the coefficients of

kinetic
kinetic and
and static
static friction,
friction, and
and give
give the
the
relationship
relationship of
of friction
friction to
to the
the normal
normal
force.
force.

Apply
Apply the
the concepts
concepts of
of static
static and
and kinetic
kinetic
friction
friction to
to problems
problems involving
involving constant
constant
motion
motion or
or impending
impending motion.
motion.

Friction Forces

When two surfaces are in contact, friction

forces oppose relative motion or
impending motion.
P
Friction forces are
parallel to the surfaces in
contact and oppose
motion or impending
motion.
Static Friction: No
relative motion.

Kinetic Friction:
Relative motion.
motion

Friction and the Normal

Force
12
n
8N n
N
4N
n
4N
2N

6N

The force required to overcome static or

kinetic friction is proportional to the
normal force, n.
ffss =
= ssn
n

ffkk =
= kkn
n

Friction forces are independent of

area.
4N

4N

If the total mass pulled is constant, the

same force (4 N) is required to overcome
friction even with twice the area of
contact.
For this to be true, it is essential that
ALL other variables be rigidly controlled.

Friction forces are independent of

temperature, provided no
chemical or structural variations
occur.
4N

4N

Heat can sometimes cause surfaces to

become deformed or sticky. In such
cases, temperature can be a factor.

Friction forces are independent of

speed.
5 m/s

2 N

20
m/s

2 N

The force of kinetic friction is the

same at 5 m/s as it is for 20 m/s.
Again, we must assume that there
are no chemical or mechanical
changes due to speed.

The Static Friction Force

When an attempt is made to move an
object on a surface, static friction
slowly increases to a MAXIMUM value.
value

fs

f s s

In this module, when we use the

following equation, we refer only to
the maximum value of static friction
and simply write:
ffss =
= ssn
n

Constant or Impending
Motion

For motion that is impending and for

motion at constant speed, the
resultant force is zero and F = 0.
(Equilibrium)
fs
P
fk
P
Rest

P fs = 0

Constant
Speed

P fk = 0

Here the weight and normal forces

are balanced and do not affect
motion.

Friction and Acceleration

When P is greater than the maximum
fs the resultant force produces
acceleration.
a
This case will
fk
P
be discussed
in a later
Constant
chapter.
Speed
f k = kn
Note that the kinetic friction force
remains constant even as the velocity
increases.

EXAMPLE 1: If k = 0.3 and s =

0.5, what horizontal pull P is
required to just start a 250-N
block moving? 1. Draw sketch and free-

n
fs

P
+

body diagram as
shown.
2. List givens and label
what is to be found:

k = 0.3; s = 0.5; W = 250

N

Find: P = ? to just
start
3. Recognize for impending motion: P fs

EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): s = 0.5, W = 250 N.

Find P to overcome fs (max). Static

friction applies.
For this case: P fs
n
=
0To find P we need to
P
4.
fs
know fs , which is:
+
250
N

fs = sn

5. To find n:

Fy = 0

W = 250 N

n=?

nW=0

n = 250
N

(Continued)

EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): s = 0.5, W = 250 N. Find

P to overcome fs (max). Now we know n =
250 N.
6. Next we find fs
n
from:
fs = sn = 0.5 (250
P
fs
N)
+
7. For this case:
case P fs
=0
P = fs = 0.5 (250 N)
PP =
= 125
125 N
N

250
N

s = 0.5

This force (125 N) is needed to just start

motion. Next we consider P needed for

EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): If k = 0.3 and s =

0.5, what horizontal pull P is required to
move with constant speed?
Fy = may =
(Overcoming kinetic friction)
0
k = 0.3

fk

n-W=0

P
+

mg

n=W

Now: fk = kn = kW
Fx = 0; P - fk =
0
P = f k = kW

P = (0.3)(250 N)

PP =
= 75.0
75.0 N
N

The Normal Force and

Weight
The normal force is NOT always equal
to the weight. The following are
examples:
P
Here the normal force
300
is less than weight
m
due to upward
W
component of P.
P
Here the normal force
is equal to only the
compo- nent of weight
W
perpendi- cular to the

plane.

Review of Free-body
Diagrams:
For
For Friction
Friction Problems:
Problems:
Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
Construct
Construct force
force diagram
diagram for
for each
each object,
object,
vectors
vectors at
at origin
origin of
of x,y
x,y axes.
axes. Choose
Choose xx or
or
yy axis
axis along
along motion
motion or
or impending
impending motion.
motion.
Dot
Dot in
in rectangles
rectangles and
and label
label xx and
and yy
compo-nents
compo-nents opposite
opposite and
and adjacent
adjacent to
to
angles.
angles.
Label
Label all
all components;
components; choose
choose positive
positive
direction.
direction.

For Friction in Equilibrium:

Read,
Read, draw
draw and
and label
label problem.
problem.
Draw
Draw free-body
free-body diagram
diagram for
for each
each body.
body.
Choose
Choose xx or
or y-axis
y-axis along
along motion
motion or
or impending
impending
motion
motion and
and choose
choose direction
direction of
of motion
motion as
as
positive.
positive.
Identify
Identify the
the normal
normal force
force and
and write
write one
one of
of
following:
following:
ffss=
or fk = kn
=sn
sn or fk = kn

For
For equilibrium,
equilibrium, we
we write
write for
for each
each axis:
axis:
FFxx=
=00

FFyy=
=00

Solve
Solve for
for unknown
unknown quantities.
quantities.

Example 2. A force of 60 N drags a

300-N block by a rope at an angle of
400 above the horizontal surface. If uk
= 0.2, what force P will produce
1. Draw and label a
=?
W
= 300 Pspeed?
constant
N
sketch of the
0
40
problem.
fk
2. Draw
free-body
m
diagram.
P sin 400 P
y
P
W

The force P is to be
replaced by its components Px and Py.

Py

40
0

fk
W

x
P Pcos
400

Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =

0.2.
3. Find components
of P:
P = P cos 400 =
x

0.766P
Py = P sin 400 =
0.643P

P sin 400

P
40
0

P cos
400

fk
m
g

+
Px = 0.766P; Py =
0.643P
Note: Vertical forces are balanced, and
for constant speed, horizontal forces are
balanced.

0
F

0
xx

0
F

0
yy

Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =

0.2.
Px =
0.766P Py =

0.643P

0.643P
4. Apply Equilibrium
con- ditions to
vertical axis.
FFyy =
= 00

fk
300 N

P
400

0.766P

n + 0.643P 300 N= [P and n are up

y
0
n = 300 N
(+)]for n in terms of
Solve
0.643P;

nn =
= 300
300 N
N
0.643P

Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =

0.2.

nn =
= 300
300 N
N

0.643P

0.643P
0.643P
5. Apply Fx = 0 to constant horizontal
Fmotion.
Fxx =
= 0.766P
0.766P ffkk =
=
00

fk
300 N

P
400

0.766P

fk = k n = (0.2)(300 N - 0.643P)
fk = (0.2)(300 N - 0.643P) = 60 N
0.129P
0.766P
0.766P fk =
0.766P (60
(60 N
N 0.129P)
0.129P) =
=
00
0;

Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =

0.2.
0.643P

P
40
0

fk

300
N

0.766P

0.766P
0.766P (60
(60 N
N 0.129P
0.129P ))
=0
=0
6. Solve for unknown P.
0.766P 60 N + 0.129P =0

0.766P + 0.129P = 60
N
0.766P + 0.129P = 60
N
0.895P = 60 N
P = 67.0 N

If P = 67 N, the
block will be
dragged at a
constant speed.
P = 67.0 N

Example 3: What push P up the

incline is needed to move a 230-N
block up the incline at constant
P
speed
k =free-body
0.3?
Step
1: if
Draw
including forces, angles
and components.

n
fk

W sin 600

230
N

0
60

W cos 600
600

W =230 N

Step 2:

Fy = 0

n W cos 600 = 0
n = (230 N) cos
600

nn == 115
115 N
N

Example 3 (Cont.): Find P to

give move up the incline (W =
230 N).

fk

W sin 600

W cos 600
600

0
60

W = 230
n = 115 N
Step 3. Apply N
Fx =
0
P - fk - W sin 600 = 0

fk = kn = 0.2(115 N)

fk = 23 N, P = ?
P - 23 N - (230 N)sin 600 =
0
P - 23 N - 199 N=
PP =
= 222
222 N
N
0

Summary: Important Points to

Consider When Solving Friction
Problems.
The maximum force of static
friction is the force required to
just n
start motion.
P
f s s
fs

Equilibrium exists at that instant:

FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00

Summary: Important Points (Cont.)

The force of kinetic friction is that
force required to maintain
constant
.
n motion
P
f

k
k
fk

Equilibrium exists if speed is

constant, but fk does not get
larger as the speed is increased.

FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00

Summary: Important Points (Cont.)

Choose an x or y-axis along the
direction of motion or impending
motion.
The F will be
zero along the xk = 0.3
n
axis and along the
P
y-axis.
fk
+
In this figure, we
W
have:

FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00

Summary: Important Points (Cont.)

Remember the normal force n is
not always equal to the weight of an
object. P
It is necessary to
300
draw the free-body
m
diagram and sum
W
forces to solve for
P
the correct n value.

FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00

Summary
Static Friction: No
relative motion.

Kinetic Friction:
Relative motion.

ffss
ssn
n

ffkk =
= kkn
n

Procedure for solution of equilibrium

problems is the same for each case:

FFxx 00 FFyy 00

CONCLUSION: Chapter 4B
Friction and Equilibrium