Session No: 03

“To determine kinetic co-efficient of friction of wheels made of different

materials"
Apparatus
Kinetic co-efficient of friction apparatus, various pairs of metallic wheels, steel, rod, stopwatch.

Fig: Kinematic Coefficient of Friction Apparatus

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.

Kinetic Co-efficient of friction

Suppose a body lying on a horizontal surface and is at rest. If a force Fa, as shown in the
figure, is applied parallel to the to the surface is applied, the body will tend to move. Force
of friction F tends to stop it, this frictional force is proportional to the normal reaction R,
which in turn proportional to weight of the body or the vertical load upon it, given as:
 Fig: Kinetic 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,
2𝜋 2 𝑆
μ𝑘 = 𝑔𝑇 2
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

Sr. Rod Wheel Time for 10 Oscillations Time Kinetic Co-efficient

No. Material Material Period of friction
- - t1 t2 t3 tavg T µk=2sπ2/T2g
1. Steel Steel 14.9 15.1 15.3 15.1 1.51 0.168
2. Steel Brass 10.26 10.21 9.14 9.87 0.987 0.466
3. Steel Aluminum 8.48 8.69 8.64 8.60 0.8603 0.52
4. Steel Cast Iron 10.09 9.85 9.28 9.74 0.974 0.403

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.