Post-Laboratory Questions 1.

Which will require a greater force: to start the motion of a heavy box or to keep the box moving with constant speed? -To start the motion of a heavy box would require a greater force than to keep the box moving with constant speed because of the value of friction. Since the forces acting on a stable object are: normal force/weight and friction, the value of friction is greater compared when the box is moving in constant speed. The higher the value of friction, the greater the force needed to affect the object. In contrast, the lower the value of friction, the lesser the force needed in order to maintain its movement at constant speed. 2. Why is it difficult to walk with new leather soles on a polished floor? -It is difficult to walk with new leather soles on a polished floor because the two surfaces on contact are both smooth in texture. The new leather soles were smooth in texture because it was burnished by shoemakers in order to make it look new. In addition, a polished floor means that a lubricant was applied to it which would explain its slippery texture. Because of the two conditions, friction is less compared to having rough surfaces in contact. Since textures all have different friction coefficients, it would depend on these values whether the texture is smooth in contact or otherwise. 3. How can an adjustable inclined plane be used to measure the coefficient of static friction and coefficient of kinetic friction? - In order to determine the coefficient of static friction using the inclined plane, place the object on the plane then slowly increase the angle of the plane until the object begins to move at angle . The value of the

coefficient of static friction can be computed using the formula, s = tan . For the value of k (kinetic friction), do the same process, but give the object a little push at each increasing value of . 4. The coefficient of static friction and coefficient of kinetic friction between a refrigerator and the floor are 0.45 and 0.38, respectively. The refrigerator weighs 1000 N, find the horizontal force needed to (a) start the motion of the refrigerator, (b) to keep the refrigerator moving at constant speed once it started moving. If a horizontal force of 400 N is applied, what will happen to the refrigerator? In this situation, what is the value of friction? -Given: s=0.45 k=0.38 w=1000 N Solution: N-W=0 N=W Fs= sN =(0.45)(1000N) Fs+F=0 Fs=F Fk+F=0 Fk=F

=450 N
Fk= kN =(0.38)(1000N) =380 N

5. Explain the usefulness of a parachute for safe landing. -Air resistance increases greatly when the parachute is opened and it would result in the deceleration of the skydiver. As a result, the skydiver will reach a speed appropriate for landing safely. The canopy (parachute) has multiple cells. The nose (front) of the canopy is open but the back is closed which pressurizes the canopy during forward flight and thus maintains the aerodynamic shape of the canopy which generates lift. The slider, a square shaped fabric with four round gommits in the corners separates the lines, the lines from the nose to the front and those from the steering brake line to the rear. The slider slows the opening down so that the deceleration is controlled. The canopy is controlled by pulling on the toggles, the left toggle for a left turn and visa versa. A final turn is made relatively close to the ground so that the landing is into wind, thus reducing the ground speed and just prior to landing, the skydiver pulls down on both toggles to induce a flare which slows and stalls the canopy for a generally soft stand up landing. 1. Introduction Friction is the "necessary evil" of all motion. No matter which direction something moves in, friction pulls it the other way. Move something left, friction pulls right. Move something up, friction pulls down. In other definitions, it is actually a force that appears whenever two things rub against each other. Although two objects might look smooth, microscopically, they're very rough and jagged.

Without friction we would not be able to walk, cars will not move, and violins would not work. In other cases one wants to maximize friction, like when stopping a train. The first practical application of friction dates from nearly a million years ago, when it was discovered that heat from friction could be used to light a fire. The use of liquid lubricants to minimize the work needed to transport heavy objects was discovered more than 4,000 years ago. Leonardo da Vinci made the first experiments on friction using a rectangular block sliding on a dry, flat surface. His main observations are that: 1) The friction force is independent of the area of the surfaces in contact. 2) The friction force is proportional to the applied load. These were framed as laws by Amontons in 1699 and researched by Coulomb in 1781, who also noted the distinction between static friction (force needed to start motion) and kinetic friction (force needed to maintain friction). Aristotle had already noted that applying a constant force to an object on the floor moves it with a constant velocity. This everyday observation causes difficulty in grasping Newton's law that, in the absence of friction, a constant force produces a constant acceleration (rather than velocity). The objectives of the experiment are as follows: 1. To verify the Laws of Friction 2. Observe the effect of air resistance on falling coffee filters.

References: [1] http://answers.tutorvista.com/798827/howcan-an-adjustable-inclined-plane-be-used-tomeasure-the-coefficient-of-static-friction-andcoefficient-of-kinetic-friction.html# [2]http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_a_para chute_help_a_skydiver_make_a_safe_landing [3]http://www.virginia.edu/ep/SurfaceScience/fri ction.html