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Session No 03
Session No 03
Apparatus
Kinetic co-efficient of friction apparatus, various pairs of metallic wheels, steel, rod, stopwatch.
Theory
Friction:
Whenever any force tends to act on a body and tries to move it over a surface there is a
force which always act opposite to the applied force and tends to stop the action of the
applied force, the force is called friction force. This force is generated due to the fact that
no surface is smooth at micro level, the ups and down in surface lock with each other
which hinder the motion. This force varies material to material depending upon the type of
the surface involved. The property which controls the amount of frictional force is called
coefficient of friction.
FαR
F=μR
Where,
μ= constant of proportionality also called the coefficient of friction between two surfaces
in contact.
F
μ=
R
So, the Ratio of frictional force to the normal reaction, is known as kinetic coefficient of
friction. The kinetic coefficient of friction is dimensionless quantity and depends on the
material of the body
Also,
2 π2 S
μk = 2
gT
Where,
S = distance between the wheels.
T = Time period
μk = coefficient of friction
Procedure
i. First the apparatus was properly balanced on the horizontal surface.
ii. A pair of metallic wheels was mounted on the apparatus.
iii. A steel rod was placed onto the wheels.
iv. After, the gear handle was rotated at constant slow rpms to calculate the time
period of fluctuations of the rod.
v. Time for the 10 oscillations was noted down and then time period was calculated as
the average of the time.
vi. Finally, the coefficient of the kinetic friction was calculated using the formula given
below.
vii. Same procedure was repeated for different material wheels and the kinetic
coefficient of frictions was calculated as given in the table below.
Observations and Calculations
S=0.195 m
Comments
Handle of the gears should be rotated continuously and gently at constant
speed to avoid errors.
Stop watch should be used with utmost care to note down the time for 10
vibrations to find the time-period.
Make sure that gears are tightly clamped to avoid slippage rotation. Otherwise,
results would not be accurate.
Make sure gears are of the same materials on the both sides.