FRICTIONN 107

an -
Hence, tangent of angle of repose is equals to the eoefficient of statie frietion
(c Application. Using an inclined plane with variable angle of inclination. coefficent
can be determined.
af friction

EXPERIMENT 10
OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between force

and to find the coefjicient of friction betweenof alimiting friction and normal reaction
bloch and a horizontal surface (by
plotting a graph).

APPARATUS

Wooden block (with a hook on one side), 50 or

g 20 g weights, horizontal plane (table top)
ftted with a frictionless pulley at one end,
pan, spring balance, thread, spirit level.
THEORY

Sliding friction. It is the friction between two

surfaces of the bodies in sliding motion.
Force of sliding friction. It is the least
force required to make a body start
over a surface. sliding
Force of friction Fc R
F uR
where =
co-efficient of friction, R is the normal reaction.

DIAGRAM (Fig. 7.05)

R (Normal Reaction)
50 g Weight (w)

W
Block Pulley
P+P

VW + WN Table Pan
(P)

Weight (p)

Fig. 7.05. Study for force of sliding friction.

108 COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICAL

PROCEDURE (Stepwise) that it ie

i
the pulley to see
1. Clean the horizontal table top and check
necessary).
frictionless lail s
it on the table top.
(Check
tality of.
horizontality of tab
2. Weigh the wooden block and put
spirit level.)
hook of the wooden
block and pass it ov
oVer the pulley
3. Tie end of a thread with the
one

(The thread must be horizontal).

4. Find the weight of the pan.
the pan hang vertical
with the pan and let .(The eyan
5. Tie other free end of the thread its weight).
will pull the wooden block horizontally
by a force equal to
weights on the pan (fran
pull the block, put
some
6. Since the pan itself does not
box).
slide.
7. Tap the table top to make the block just
little by little, till the
block Just starts shding on tappinoa
g the
8. Increase in
weights pan
table top
them in observation table (snn.
in the pan then record
9. Note the total weights put
the force of sliding friction.)
weight of pan and weights in pan gives
over the wooden
block and repeat steps 8 and 9
10. Put one 50 g or 20 g weight
50 g or 20 g.
times. Every time increase weight by
11. Repeat steps 8, 9, 10, six
tabular form as given ahead.
12. Record the observations in

OBSERVATIONS

Weight of wooden block, W g Wt

P : . . . g Wt.
Weight of pan,
Table for additional weights
Total weight being Weight on Total weight (fore)
Serial Weights on
wooden block pulled (W+ w) g ut) pan pulling the block and
No.
= Normal reaction (R) (p) weights (P+p)gut)
(w)
of g wt)
=Limiting friction (F) (eut
Obs. (g wt) (g wt)

(2) (3) (4) (5)

(1)

1.

2 * **

3. **

5.
6.
7. **
F R I C T I O N

109

CALCULATIONS

Total weight (torce) pulling the block and of

sliding frietion.
weights (column 5) gives the value

On horizontal surface, total weights being pulled (column 3) give normal reacuo"
Tota weight (force) pulling these
weights (column 5) gives dynamic friction .
Plot a graph between normal reaction R
(column 3) and limiting friction F (column o,
taking R along X-axis and F along Y-axis.

The graph comes to be a straight line as shown in

Fig. 7.06.

Graph between Normal Reaction (R) and

YT Scale: Limiting Friction (F).
X-axis:1 cm= 50 g
Y-axis: 1 cm 25 wt of F
R
200 =
g wt of

175
150

125

100

75

50 ...c

0050 200 250 300 350 400

Nomal Reaction (R) gwt (W w

Fig. 7.06. Graph between R and F.

RESULT
It is found that as the total weight pulled (column 3)
increases, force of limiting friction
aso inereases. The increase is in direct proportion.
The graph shows that limiting friction F is directly proportional to the normal reaction R.
t 13 an agreement with law of limiting friction. (This experiment may be taken as a verification
of the law'

The constant ratio F/R, is called coefñcient of friction (u). It can be calculated by finding
stope of the graph. From Fig. 7.06.
 COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICAL, Pu
110 PIUYSICS
In AABC
150- 50
BC F
Slope ofstraight line AB = tan B = AC R 300-100

F_100- i =0.5
tan8=R 200
But F uR
2
R
(2)
From equation (1) and
H = tan 6 =0.5
= 0.5.

PRECAUTIONS (to betaken

horizontal.
be
(table top) should
1. The surface should be
horizontal.
between block and pulley
2 The thread part
in small steps.
should be increased
3 Weight in pan each time
gently
4 Table top should be tapped
frictionless.
be
5. Pulley should

SOURCES OF ERROR
be horizontal.
not
1. The table top may horizontal.
between block and pulley may not be
2. The thread part
frictionless.
3. Pulley may not be

UIVA VOCE

7.10. (Every Article is a question.)

Note. Read all the Articles 7.01 to horizontal ?
between block and pulley is kept
91. Why thread part
the block horizontally
Ans. It makes total weight of pan and weights effective in pulling
Q.2. Why is pulley kept frictionless? WI"
be fully effective. Friction pulley
in
Ans. Tt done to keep the weight of pan and weights in it to
is
reduce its effective value.

Q.3. Why roads become slippery after rains?

It lubricant prevenu
acts
Rain water forms a thin layer between our feet and road.
as a
Ans.
becomes less and cau
the surface of wheel and road. Friction
interlocking of irregularities on
slipping increase friction
9.4. Why brake surfaces are kept flat, though area of surface does not
s not
Ans. Same force applied through more area reduces pressure. The surface being brakeu

scratched.