D RY FRI C T I ON

1. A block of weight 𝑊 is to moved along a horizontal plane as shown in figure. Determine the ratio of
force needed to move it when force is applied as push (figure 1) to the force needed to move it when force
is applied as pull (figure 2).

[Think about why you need to apply more force as PUSH than as PULL!]

2. A ladder of weight 𝑊 is to be held at an angle 𝜃 as shown in figure. If the surface between ladder

and wall is smooth, what minimum coefficient of friction would be required between ladder and floor

to prevent the ladder from slipping?

3. In problem 2, let the surface between ladder and wall has same coefficient of friction as that between

ladder and floor, what minimum coefficient of friction would be required to prevent the ladder from

slipping?

4. A uniform bar of weight 800 𝑁 is to be held in position by a weight 𝑊 as shown in figure. Considering

surface at A as smooth, and coefficient of friction at surface B to be 0.2, determine the range of values of

𝑊 to keep the bar in equilibrium.

5. A uniform bar AB (length 3 𝑚) of 2225 𝑁 weight is supported over a block of weight 1335 𝑁 as shown

in figure. Considering surface at A as smooth, and coefficient of friction at surfaces B and C to be 0.4,

determine whether (i) the whole system is in equilibrium or (ii) The bar alone is slipping over the block

or (iii) the bar and block together are slipping over floor?

[Hint: Assume equilibrium and determine actual friction force required at surfaces B and C to maintain equilibrium. Wherever required friction is more than AUKAAT

FRICTION (limiting friction), slipping will start!]

6. Three identical cylinders are to be stacked as shown in figure. Friction between cylinders is negligible.

What coefficient of friction between the cylinders and the ground can keep whole system in equilibrium?

T I PPI NG

7. A rectangular block of width 𝑏 and height ℎ is subjected to a horizontal force 𝑃. Obtain the condition
on static coefficient of friction for tipping to be impossible.

8. A uniform slender bar is subjected to force 𝑃 as shown in figure. Obtain the condition on 𝜃 in terms
of static coefficient of friction, for tipping to happen before sliding can occur.
9. A beam of weight 5000 𝑁 and length 5 𝑚 is lying flat on ground as shown in figure. Static coefficient
of friction between beam and ground is 0.4. (i) Determine the maximum tension in belt that can be
applied at end of belt to keep equilibrium of the beam. (ii) If tension obtained in part (i) exceeds, whether
sliding or tipping will occur? Treat pulley as frictionless.

10. In problem 9, if tension in belt reaches 1876.13 𝑁 and the beam in impending to slide, determine the
point of application of resultant reaction force (from A) of ground on beam just at the start of impending
sliding.

BE L T FRI CT I ON

11. The block of weight 𝑊 is supported by a rope that is wrapped one-and-half times around the circular

rod. Determine the range of values of 𝑃 for which the block remains at rest. The coefficient of static

friction between the rod and the peg is 0.2.

12. A flat belt is used to transmit a torque from pulley A to pulley B as shown in figure. Coefficient of

static friction is 0.35 and allowable belt tension is 845 𝑁, determine the maximum torque that can be

transmitted.
Answers

1.
1+𝜇 tan 𝜃
1−𝜇 tan 𝜃

2.
1
2 tan 𝜃

3.
1−sin 𝜃
cos 𝜃

4. 141.88 𝑁 < 𝑊 < 781.88 𝑁

5. 𝐵𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘

6. 𝑁𝑜 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝜇 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑢𝑚

7. 𝜇 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛

𝑏
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒
2𝑐

8. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑟, 𝜃 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
1
𝜇

9. (𝑖) 1876.12 𝑁 (𝑖𝑖) 𝐼𝑓 𝑇 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 1876.12 𝑁, 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

10. 1.92 𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐴

11. 0.152𝑊 < 𝑃 < 6.59𝑊

12. 39 𝑁𝑚