TEC 114: BASIC MECHANICS

3. Friction
Learning outcomes; by the end of this course you should be able to
1. Understand the factors that contribute to fiction
2. Calculate frictional forces and coefficient of friction in horizontal and inclined plane.

Friction is the resistance to relative motion between two surfaces in contact. The motion can be
sliding, rolling or static.

There are two types of friction

i. Static friction – it is the force that opposes the start of relative motion between two objects.

ii. Kinetic friction – it is the force that opposes the relative motion between two objects in contact
with each other that are in motion.

Static friction is greater than kinetic friction

When an object rests on a surface and exerts its weight (mg), the surface exerts a normal reaction
force (N) on the object, these two forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

Friction ( ) is proportional to the normal force pressing the two surfaces together ( ) and the
smoothness of the surfaces in contact but independent from the area in contact and speed of sliding
between the surfaces.

Frictional resistance is equal to the product of the coefficient of friction and the perpendicular force
acting on the plane of action.

Where is the coefficient of friction and its determined by the type of materials in contact.

 For smooth surface =0

Friction acts parallel to the surfaces in contact and in the opposite direction to the force causing
the motion.

Push(F) Pull (F)

Friction Friction

When a force F is applied to a body, but not enough to cause motion, friction ( ) will act in the
opposite direction preventing the body to move ( ≤ ). At this point of equilibrium is known
as coefficient of static or limiting friction and is static friction. Just before motion = .

When the body starts moving, is now known as coefficient of sliding or kinetic friction ( ) and
( ) is kinetic friction ( ). When the body is moving at constant velocity = = .

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The static value is normally larger that the sliding value. For a smooth surface the coefficient of
friction is zero.

sample problem 3-1

A body of mass 50 kg rests on a wooden floor. Given that the coefficient of static and kinetic
friction is 0.28 and 0.16 respectively, determine the force that must be applied to
i. Just get the pallet moving
ii. Move the body at constant velocity

i. to just get the pallet moving, the force applied must be equal to the maximum static friction.
= = = 0.28 (50 9.81) = 137.34

ii. To move the body at constant velocity, the coefficient of friction will drop from its static to
kinetic value.
= = = 0.16 (50 9.81) = 78.48

Forces acting at an angle to the surface

Forces inclined to the surface should be resolved into components that are parallel or perpendicular
to the surface.
sample problem 3-2
A body weighing 500N rests on a wooden floor. Given that the coefficient of static friction is 0.28,
determine the force F that must be applied at an angle of 400 to the horizontal Just to get the pallet
moving if the force is a
i. Push on the body
ii. Pull on the body
The two scenarios are shown below.

Push(F) F sin40 Pull(F)

F sin40 20

40 40
F cos 40 F cos 40
Friction
Friction
mg mg

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i. Push on the body – just before the body starts to move

cos 40 = = = 0.28(500 + sin 40)

=?

ii. Pull on the body – just before the body starts to move
cos 40 = = = 0.28(500 − sin 20)

=?

Friction on inclined plane

If a body is at an inclined plane, the weight W will still act vertically downwards, so it must be
resolved into its vertical and horizontal components which are parallel or perpendicular to the
surface.

W sin θ
N W cos θ
W θ
θ
θ θ
W

In the above case the normal force pressing the two surfaces together =
Thus friction = =

F
F

W sin θ W sin θ
W cos θ W cos θ
Fμ Fμ
θ θ
θ θ
W W
(a) (b)

Figure 3.1

The horizontal component of W i.e will either assist or resist motion depending on
whether motion is up the plane or down the plane.
(i) Motion up the plane.

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 TEC 114: BASIC MECHANICS

If the body is about to move up the plane due to a force F, will resist motion. Equating
forces parallel to the plane of motion,
= + sin = + sin = + sin

(ii) Motion down the plane

If the body is about to move down the plane due to a force F, will assist motion. Equating
forces parallel to the plane of motion,

= + sin

F = N− sin = − sin

sample problem 3-3

A body of weight 500 kg rests on a plane inclined at 20o. given that coefficient of friction is 0.4,
determine a force F required to
(i) Pull the body up the plane
(ii) Pull the body down the plane
=
(i) Pull the body up the plane

F
+ sin =
= N = W cos
= ( cos + sin ) W sin θ
W cos θ
= 500 (
9.81 0.4 cos 20 + sin 20) Fμ
θ
=
θ
W
(ii) Pull the body down the plane

= +
= N = W cos W sin θ
= ( cos − sin ) W cos θ
Fμ
= 500 9.81 ( 0.4 cos 20 − sin 20) θ
= θ
W
(b)

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sample problem 3-4

A body of weight 500N rests on a plane inclined at 20o to the horizontal. The coefficient of friction
is 0.4, determine a force F at an angle of 15o to the plane required to
(a) Pull the body upwards
(b) Push the body downwards
(c) Pull the body downwards
(d) Push the body upwards

sample problem 3-5

(a) Fig Q3 shows an experimental setup to determine coefficient of friction. It was found that a
force (F) of 23 N was just enough to start motion of the masses. Assuming that the coefficient
of friction (µ) between the surfaces in contact is the same.
(i) Derive an equation with µ the subject
(ii) Using the equation derived in Q3b(i) and given that θ = 60o, β =30o, α = 20o, m1 = 3, m2
=2, determine the coefficient of friction

F
α

θ
β
Figure Q3

EXERCISE IV: Hannah and Hillier, 1996 Applied Mechanics, Third edition Page 42
Exercise V. Verreyne S Engineering mechanics 2nd edition Adcom Lotho CC pretoria

Further reading – Angle of friction: Hannah and Hillier, 1996 Applied Mechanics, Third
edition.

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