Friction-Craft Program-Level II

FRICTION
In engineering, one of the major causes of wear and tear on machinery is as a result of friction. In this
chapter we will look at Dry, sliding friction. This is friction of sliding surfaces without lubrication.

Def.; Friction is the force opposing relative motion between two surfaces in sliding contact.

Typical arrangement of a body in friction. In Fig1 we have a block on a flat (or horizontal)
surface with an effort E applied to pull the
N block.
Body
Where;
E N = Normal reaction force.
E = Applied Effort.
Ff [ss] Ff = Frictional force
W= Weight of the body or block.
W Sliding surface SS = Sliding Surface
Fig 1.
Coefficient of friction; = ... eqtn (1).

Types of friction

There are many types and categories of friction however, in this study we will only focus on two and
these are, Static friction and Kinetic (or Dynamic) friction.

Static and Kinetic friction

Static friction is friction experienced by a body which is stationary. Static friction increase from zero to a
maximum value beyond which it cannot increase any more. The object will only move when the applied
effort {E} is equal to the maximum value of static friction {Ff }. If the applied effort {E} is less than the
maximum value of static friction then the object will not move. This can be summarized as follows;
1. E Ff(max) Body Not move,
2. E Ff(max) Body Not move or Body Move at constant velocity {i.e; acceleration; a= 0}.
3. E Ff(max) Body Move with acceleration. (a 0).
Static friction has its own value of coefficient of friction which is called coefficient of static friction and
symbolized by; ‘ ’. It is the ratio of the frictional force (Ff) to the normal reaction (N). See eqtn (1)

Kinetic friction which is also called Dynamic friction, is the friction experienced by a body which is in
motion. Kinetic friction has a fixed value which is slightly less than the maximum value of static friction
(i.e.; Ffk Ffs). Kinetic friction has its own value of the coefficient of kinetic friction symbolized by; ‘ ’

Value of Coefficient of Friction;

Coefficient of friction is defined as the ratio of Friction fore to Normal reaction force. The value of
coefficient of friction lies between 0 and 1. If it is 0 then there is no friction and the surfaces are sliding
freely. If it is 1 then the surfaces are rigid and not moving. Therefore values of coefficient of friction will
always lie between 0 and 1. This means that the surfaces will slide with friction.

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Laws of friction

1. Friction always opposes motion. (it always acts opposite to the direction of relative motion and
tangential to the surface of sliding)
2. Frictional Force (Ff) is directly proportional to the Normal reaction (N) between the surfaces in
contact (Ff = N).
3. Friction depends on the condition and nature of the surfaces involved (i.e.; rough, smooth, wet,
dry, dirty etc.)
4. Friction depends on the type of the surfaces in contact (i.e.; wood, concrete, metal, plastic, rubber
etc.)
5. Frictional force is independent of the area of the surface in contact.(Size of area in contact does
not affect frictional force )
6. At low speeds, frictional force is independent of the sliding speed.

-Advantages/Disadvantages of friction

Advantages of friction Disadvantages of friction

1. Nuts stick to bolts and remain in place and don not
untie due to friction.
2. Belts transmit motion from pulley to pulley with the
help of friction between the belt and the pulley.
3. Vehicle clutches transmit motion from engine to gear
box by fiction.
4. Vehicles/machines can move or roll on wheels
without slipping due to friction.
5. Metal grinding, cutting and tool sharpening is
possible due to friction.
6. Helps generated the needed heat such as when
lighting a match stick/fire by rubbing.
7. A ladder can stay in position without slipping due to
friction.
8. Walking is possible due to friction between the foot
sole and the ground so there is no slipping.
1. Friction wastes energy because it
opposes motion.
2. Causes wear and tear of machine parts.
3. Causes overheating by generating
unwanted heat when machining.
4. Reduces the life span of machines.
5. Reduces efficiency of the machine.
6. Energy input in machines is always
greater than energy output because of
friction.
7. It increases the cost of
production/operation of some machinery
due to costs towards the design/operation
of machine cooling systems.

-Increase/Reduction of friction

Ways to Increase friction Ways to reduce friction

1. Knurling of surfaces of handles to increase
grip ( friction) 1. Polishing of surfaces
2. Trades on tyre surfaces increase grip/traction 2. Application of lubricants such as grease, oil, air
3. Trades on shoe soles to increase grip/friction 3. Application of Bearings
4. Application of materials with high value of 4. Application of materials with low value of
coefficient of friction such as rubber on desired coefficient of friction on desired surfaces
surfaces

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Friction free body diagram

When sketching a free body diagram for friction note the following;

1. Sliding Surface (SS) is either horizontal or Inclined. [ HSS or ISS ]

2. Weight (W) acts Vertically Downward, [ WVD ]
3. Normal (N) acts Perpendicular to Sliding Surface,[PSS ]
4. Friction force (Ff ) acts Tangential to Sliding Surface and Opposite Direction of Motion.
[FTS +ODM]
5. Effort (E) will be a Pull or Push. Horizontal, Parallel or Inclined (to and above or to and below)

1. Horizontal Sliding Surface & Effort 2. Horizontal Sliding Surface & Inclined
N Effort
N E

Ff [ss]
Ff [ss]
W
W

3. Inclined Sliding Surface Where;

Ff ; Frictional force, W; Weight,
E N; Normal reaction, E; Effort
N S.S; Sliding Surface.
Pulling Effort (E)

hrzl
E
Ff (a). To & Above [TAH]. (b). To & Below [TBH].
W
Pushing Effort (E)
E
hrzl

(c). To & Below [TBH]. (d). To & Above [TAH].

{Horizontal surface, level ground, floor, ground}

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Friction-Craft Program-Level II

Example 1
A block of mass 80kg is pulled along a horizontal surface at constant speed by a horizontal
force of magnitude of 500N.
Determine;

(a) Sketch a free body diagram and calculate;

(b) Normal reaction
(c) Frictional force
(d) Coefficient of friction.
(e) Angle of friction or Repose.

Data ;
m= 80kg, (c) Friction Force;
W = mg = (80kg)(9.81m/s2) = 784.8N Sum horizontal components;(Sum x-axis)

⃖ =

(a) Sketch a free body diagram; Ff = E

Ff = 500N [E = 500N]
y N
x Ff = 500N

E(500N) (d) Coefficient of friction

Ff =
W(784.8N)
= = 0.637104995
(b) Normal Reaction;
= 0.64
Sum Vertical components;(Sum y-axis)
(e) Angle of friction or Repose ( )
ƩFy = ƩFy
Angle of repose ( ) =
N = W

N = 784.8 [W = 784.8N ] =

= 32.5o
N = 784.8N

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Friction-Craft Program-Level II

Example 2
A block of mass 200kg is pulled along a level ground at a constant speed by a force of 1kN inclined at
60o to and above the horizontal,
(a) Sketch a free body diagram and determine;
(b) Normal reaction.
(c) Frictional force.
(d) Coefficient of friction
(e) Total reaction

Data ;
m = 200kg, (c) Friction Force;
W = mg = (200kg)(9.81m/s2) = 1962N.
E = 1kN (1000N), @60o TAH. Sum horizontal components

⃖ =
(a) Sketch free body diagram;
Ff = E.cos60o
y
N
Ff = (1000N)cos60o
x E(1kN)
Ff = 500N
o (E.Sin60)
60
(d) Coefficient of friction
(E.Cos60)
Ff
=

W(1962N) =

(b) Normal Reaction; = 0.46

Sum Vertical components; (e) Total reaction (RT)

ƩFy = ƩFy
RT = √ { } { }
o
N + E.sin60 = W

N + (1000N).Sin60o = 1962N = √{ } { }

= 1204.64N
N = 1’095.97N

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Example 3
A block of mass 200kg is pushed along a horizontal floor at constant speed by a force of 1kN inclined at
60o to and above the horizontal,
(a) Sketch a free body diagram and determine;
(b) Normal reaction.
(c) Frictional force.
(d) Coefficient of friction
(e) Total reaction
Data ;
m = 200kg, (c) Friction Force;
W = mg = (200kg)(9.81m/s2) = 1962N.
E = 1kN (1000N), @60o TAH. Sum horizontal components

⃖ =
(a) Sketch free body diagram;
Ff = E.cos60o
y
N
Ff = (1000N)cos60o
x E(1kN)
Ff = 500N
o (E.Sin60)
60
(d) Coefficient of friction
Ff (E.Cos60)
=

W(1962N) = = 0.176801806

= 0.18
(b) Normal Reaction;
Sum Vertical components; (e) Total reaction (RT)
ƩFy = ƩFy
RT = √ { } { }

N = W + E.sin60o

N = 1962N + (1000N).Sin60o = √{ } { }

= 1962N + 866.0254N = 2871.885737

N = 2’828.025N RT = 2871.89N

6 kenny.banda@nortec.edu.zm Revised2022/10/31