INTRODUCTION

When two rough surfaces are made to slide over each other, the uneven surface resists the sliding.
Sometime, the force is large enough to cause some materials on the surface to tear away. In
reality, even smooth surface have microscopic roughness, which causes friction. The friction
force must be overcome before the sliding take place (figure 1)

Figure 1: Force acting when pushing a block

In practice, it is known that the friction 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
symbol., Friction which opposes movement from rest is called the static friction.

Graph 1: Friction Force versus Normal Force

Law 1

When two bodies are in contact, the direction of the forces of Friction on one of them at its point of
contact is opposite to the direction in which the point of contact tends to move relative to the other.

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Law 2
If the bodies are in equilibrium, the force of Friction is just sufficient to prevent friction and may
therefore be determined by applying the conditions of equilibrium of all the forces acting on the body.

The amount of Friction that can be exerted between two surfaces is limited and if the forces acting on
the body are made sufficiently great, motion will occur. Hence, we define limiting friction or Static
Friction as the friction which is exerted when equilibrium is on the point of being broken by one body
sliding on another. The magnitude of limiting friction or Static Friction is given by the following three
laws.

Law 3

The ratio of the limiting friction or Static Friction to the Normal reaction between two surfaces
depends on the substances of which the surfaces are composed and not on the magnitude of the
Normal reaction.

This ratio is usually denoted by .

Thus if the Normal reaction is N, the limiting friction or Static Friction, Fs = s N

for given materials polished to the same standard is found to be constant and independent of N. is
called The Coefficient of friction

Law 4

The amount of limiting friction or Static Friction is dependent of the area of contact between the two
surfaces and of the shape of the surfaces, provided that the Normal reaction is unaltered.

Law 5

When motion takes place the direction of friction is opposite to the direction of relative motion and
independent of velocity. The magnitude of the force of friction is in a constant ratio to the Normal
reaction but this ratio may be slightly less than when the body is just on the point of moving.

OBJECTIVE

To verify the law of friction and to measure the coefficient of friction for different materials

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METHODOLOGY
Apparatus

1. Friction block w/cord

2. Friction plate
3. Knurled nuts
4. Plumb bob & line
5. Weight hook
6. Weights
7. Spring balance

Preparation

1. The mounting panel was secured in

the vertical position.

2. The assembly was mounted by placing the stud through the H4 hole, the stud on the
column through C8. Secure with nuts.

3. The plumb line was hanged over the protractor center screw and ensured that the plane was
horizontal.

4. The friction block with spring balance was weigh and record its weight was recorded.

5. The friction block was placed at the left end of the plane with the wood surface
downwards and assemble the cord over the pulley.

6. The 0.1N weight hook was attatched to the end of the cord.

Test 1 (Wood on wood)

1. The weights was placed on the hook.

2. The block was given a starting push as each weight is applied until the weight is sufficient to
pull the block along the plane with a slow uniform speed.

3. The results was recorded

Test 2 (Wood on wood)

1. Test 1 was repeated but did not assist the block by pushing it.

2. The weights were placed on the hook (very carefully) until the block begins to move.

3. As soon as the static friction is overcome, the block moved quickly along the plane.

4. The result was recorded.

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Test 3 (Wood on wood): effect of area of contact

 1. The block was turned on its narrow side.

2. Test 1 was tested on the turned block and result was recorded.

3. The other narrow side of the block was repeated for the test.

4. The result was recorded.

Test 4 (Wood on wood)

1. The friction block was replaced in its original position as for Test 1.

2. Loads of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4N was added to the friction block (placed on top of its peg) and
the equivalent forces to overcome kinetic friction was founded.

3. The results were recorded.

Test 5 (Metal on metal)

1. The friction plate was placed on the plane between the stops.

2. With its metal side upwards, the loading peg was reversed in the friction block and placed
it on the plate with its metal side downwards to give a metal to metal contact.

3. It was repeated as for Test 4 and the result was recorded.

Test 6 (Metal on rubber)

1. The friction plate was turned over; the rubber side was placed upwards to give metal to
rubber contact between the block and plate.
2. Because the friction is so great, it was more difficult to judge the force required.

3. The test was aimed at causing the block to move at a constant speed along the length of the
plane.

4. It was repeated as for Test 4 and the results was recorded.

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RESULTS

TEST Test Fnormal (N) Fappiled (N)

1 Wood On Wood (With Starting Push) 0.185 0.5
2 Wood On Wood (Without Starting 0.185 0.6
Push)
3.1 Wood On Wood ( 1st Narrow Side) 0.185 0.55
3.2 Wood On Wood ( 2nd Narrow Side) 0.185 0.55

TEST 4: Wood on Wood

Trial mblock (kg) madded (kg) mtotal (kg) Fnormal (N) Fapplied (N)
1 0.0189 0.0510 0.0699 0.6857 1.10
2 0.0189 0.1019 0.1208 1.1850 1.22
3 0.0189 0.2039 0.2228 2.1857 1.80
4 0.0189 0.3058 0.3247 3.1853 2.10
5 0.0189 0.4077 0.4266 4.1849 2.80

TEST 5: Metal on Metal

Trial mblock (kg) madded (kg) mtotal (kg) Fnormal (N) Fapplied (N)
1 0.0189 0.0510 0.0699 0.6857 0.70
2 0.0189 0.1019 0.1208 1.1850 0.90
3 0.0189 0.2039 0.2228 2.1857 1.13
4 0.0189 0.3058 0.3247 3.1853 1.40
5 0.0189 0.4077 0.4266 4.1849 1.72

TEST 6: Metal on Rubber

Trial mblock (kg) madded (kg) mtotal (kg) Fnormal (N) Fapplied (N)
1 0.0189 0.0510 0.0699 0.6857 2.17
2 0.0189 0.1019 0.1208 1.1850 2.65
3 0.0189 0.2039 0.2228 2.1857 3.92
4 0.0189 0.3058 0.3247 3.1853 4.60
5 0.0189 0.4077 0.4266 4.1849 5.35

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CALCULATION

Test 4:

Using the line of best fit, the slope of the graph was obtain:

Slope = coefficient of friction,.

y 2 y 1
Slope =
x 2x 1

2.51.6
= 3.51.7

=0.5
Theory Value of = 0.25

Test 5:

Using the line of best fit, the slope of the graph was obtain:

Slope = coefficient of friction,.

y 2 y 1
Slope =
x 2x 1

1.50.6
= 3.40.3

=0.29
Test 6:

Using the line of best fit, the slope of the graph was obtain:

Slope = coefficient of friction,.

y 2 y 1
Slope =
x 2x 1

4.952.75
= 3.71.3

=0.92
Theory Value of = 1.0
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Discussion

1) Although a larger area of contact between two surfaces would

create a larger source of frictional forces, it also reduces the
pressure between the two surfaces for a given force holding them
together. Since pressure equals force divided by the area of contact,
it works out that the increase in friction generating area is exactly
offset by the reduction in pressure; the resulting frictional forces,
then, are dependent only on the frictional coefficient of the materials
and the FORCE holding them together. The force due to friction is
generally independent of the contact area between the two surfaces.

2) The difference between Static Friction and Kinetic Friction ?

Static friction occurs when two objects are at rest with respect to
each other, but kinetic friction occurs when two are moving with
respect to each other.
Kinetic friction is less than the maximum static friction.
Static friction can be zero, while kinetic friction cannot be so
practically.

3) Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
It is becomes difficult to walk on a
slippery road due to low friction.
When we move on ice, it becomes
difficult to walk due to low friction
of ice.
We can not fix nail in the wood or
wall if there is no friction. It is
friction which holds the nail.
Disadvantages
It produces heat in various parts of
machines. In this way some
useful energy is wasted as heat
energy.
Due to friction, engines of
automobiles consume more fuel
which is a money loss.
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Conclusion

In this experiment, we examined kinetic friction and looked at the factors that affect the
value of the coefficient of kinetic friction. Form the graphs, we have found a few different
values of the coefficient. Of our values found for k, I think that the slopes found for our best
fit lines give us the most accurate measurement. By using a higher coefficient like rubber, any
small changes in the value of the coefficient will be harder to detect as the actual value will
be much higher.

References

References
Holzner, S. (n.d.). HOW SURFACE AREA AFFECTS THE FORCE OF FRICTION. Retrieved from Dummies:
http://www.dummies.com/education/science/physics/how-surface-area-affects-the-force-of-
friction/
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