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CHENNAI PUBLIC SCHOOL

Anna Nagar Chennai -600 101

FRICTION
Friction:
Force that opposes motion when two surfaces in contact, move or tend to
move with respect to each other.
Direction of force of friction:
The force of friction always opposes the motion of one object over another
object. So, the force of friction acts in a direction opposite to the direction
in which an object moves.
Cause of friction:
Friction is caused by the interlocking of irregularities in the surfaces of the
two objects which are in contact with each other.
Effects of friction:
1. Friction tends to slow down and stop a moving object.
2. It prevents a stationary object from moving.
3. It produces heat.
4. It causes wear and tear.
Factors affecting friction:
1. Nature of surface: A rough surface has more irregularities than a smooth
surface. This results in greater resistance to the motion, that is greater
friction.
2. Mass of the body: A heavier mass will press harder into the irregularities.
So, there will be greater resistance to motion, that is greater friction.
Types of friction:
Static friction:
The friction between two surfaces that are in contact or at rest is called
static friction. The force required to make a stationary box to just start to
move is a measure of static friction.
Sliding friction:

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The friction acting on an object when it is sliding is called sliding friction.
The force required to keep the box moving at the same speed is a measure
of sliding friction.
Sliding friction is smaller than static friction.
A person sliding on a slide is an example of sliding friction.
Rolling friction:
The friction acting when an object rolls over the surface of another is called
rolling friction.
Rolling reduces friction and makes movement of things easier. That is why
suitcases and bags are fitted with wheels.
Fluid friction:
Fluids offer resistance to the motion of objects moving through them. This
resistance offered by fluids is called fluid friction or drag.
Fluid friction on an object depends on
• The shape of the object
• Speed of the object
• Nature of fluid.

Answer the following question

1. What do you mean by streamlined shape? How is it useful?
The fluid friction (or drag) can be minimized by giving special shape
called ‘streamlined shape’ to the objects which move through fluids.
Eg: Birds flying in air have streamlined body to reduce fluid friction.
Fishes living in water have streamlined body to reduce fluid friction.
Aeroplanes and spacecrafts have streamlined body to reduce fluid
friction.
2. Large-size suitcases are fitted with wheels. Give reason.
When the complete surfaces of two objects are in contact, friction is more.
Using wheels helps to reduce friction. Rolling reduces friction and makes
movement of things easier. That is why suitcases and bags are fitted with
wheels.

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