Department of

PHYSICS
Experiment 102
Friction
Name:
Course/Year: ME/1
Subject/Section: PHYS101L/A23
Date of Performance:
Date of Submission:
Criteria Score
Data Sheet with sample computation (40 points)
Guide Questions (GQ) (10 points)
Interpretation of Results (Analysis) (15 points)
Error Analysis (5 points)
Conclusion (15 points)
Application (10 points)
Graph/figure (5 points)

Instructor
Guide Questions

1. Does the area of contact affect the coefficient of friction? Defend your answer.

Friction is a force who opposes motion. There are two type of friction: kinetic
friction present when the object is in motion; and static friction which keep the object at
rest. If the object overcome the max friction motion will start and the static friction will
be converted into kinetic friction. Both type of friction is a product of coefficient of
friction and the normal force. The coefficient of friction relies on the composition of the
two objects opposing each other and not on the surface area. Friction is present when two
objects are in contact and an impending motion is present.

2. Why is it necessary to observe uniform motion of the block each procedure of the
experiment?

Object undergoing uniform motion has a constant acceleration. The experiment

wants to acquire the coefficient of friction. By doing so, if the motion is not uniform the
object has an acceleration due to unbalanced force hence getting the coefficient of friction
is nonsense and may vary. Thus getting a less precise and accurate coefficient of friction.

Analysis

Friction is a force opposing the motion of an object. Friction can be classified as static
friction or kinetic friction. Static friction retains the object at rest. Kinetic friction opposes a
moving object which have an opposite direction. Friction may increase or decrease depending on
several factors and one of these is normal force. Overcoming the max friction of an object will
start its motion. The magnitude of the frictional forces between two objects in contact can be
mathematically expressed as:
𝑓 = 𝜇𝑓𝑛

where 𝑓 is the frictional force, µ is the coefficient of friction, and 𝑓𝑛 is the normal force.
Frictional force is the product if the coefficient of friction and the normal force of the object in
contact. The primary principle in this experiment.
The experiment was composed of two parts: determination of the coefficient of friction
(large and narrow side) and determination of angle of repose. In both parts the object must undergo
uniform motion which the object has a constant acceleration. The only force acting upon the object
must be force due to gravity alone. In determining the coefficient of friction on large and narrow
side three (3) trials were conducted ensuring the accuracy and precision of the data. The angle of
repose is the angle between the horizontal surface and incline surface where the object slides down
due to the force of gravity. It is mathematically expressed as:
 𝜔𝜌
𝜇= = tan 𝜃
𝜔𝑏

Where µ is the coefficient of friction, 𝜔𝜌 is the weight of the pan and added weight, 𝜔𝑏 is
the weight of the block.
In Part A, both the narrow side and large side slide at the 30g of the total weight of the pan.
An increment of twice the succeeding trial was done until 3 trials which was 120g. The computed
frictional force per trial was averaged. The average frictional force (large and narrow side) was
0.4947. The initial angle it slides was 25o.
In part B, the block uniformly slides on the track at a height of 55cm. The ratio of vertical
height and horizontal distance was computed. The ratio was used to get the angle of repose which
was 24.9903o. The angle of repose was used to acquire the coefficient of friction. The coefficient
of friction from part B was 0.4661.
The coefficient of friction from part B was compared to the average coefficient of friction
from part A which have a 0.0286 difference. The initial angle from part A was compared to the
angle of repose which have a 0.0097 difference.

Error Analysis

The errors present can be systematic error or random error. Systematic errors are due to the
apparatus used. The suspension setup may contribute to the error. The platform and orientation of
the setup may affect the motion of the block. The person conducting the experiment may cause in
the error my misreading the instrument and inferring that the block slides uniformly or concluding
the start of the motion in that certain weight.

Conclusion

The experiment aims to determine the coefficient of friction between different surfaces in
contact as on body moves against each other with uniform motion; and establishing the relationship
between the angle of repose and average coefficient of friction in part A. The objectives of the
experiment were met. The average coefficient of friction for the narrow side and large side of the
block were both 0.4947 with an angle of 25o. The acquired angle of repose was 24.9903o. The
tangent of angle of repose served as the coefficient of friction. The average coefficient of friction
from part A was compared to the tangent of angle of repose which it can be concluded that there
is a minimal amount of deviation. The deviation may arise from the observational error, setup
error, and orientation of the experiment.

Application

Friction is one of the necessary forces used. As mechanical engineering student, objects in
contact may exhibit different kinds of friction. Friction also affects the life span and durability of
various machine. One practical use of friction is slowing down of a car. Friction from the tires and
the road alone is not enough to halt a vehicle. A metal disc or a drum encase present in every wheel
of a car and a brake caliper presses against the disc to slow down the vehicle. Friction is created
by the contact of two object. Friction also dissipates energy as a formed of heat from the rubbing
of the two object which can cause wear due to the prolong usage.

Graph/Figure

The gathered data from the large side of the block and narrow side of the block were the
alike. For simplicity only one (1) graph was presented.

140
120
120
Total Weight of the Pan (g)

100

80
60
60

40 30

20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Total Weight of the Block (g)

The graph above shown the visual representation of the constant mass of the weight of
the block with respect to the changing weight of the pan. The x-axis served as the total weight of
the block which was 141.5g. The y-axis served as the total weight of the pan with twice the
increment from the initial weight which was 30g. A vertical line was shown due to the constant
weight of the block but different weight of the pan.