LESSON 8 11 2021

Different kinds of forces

contact force – a force exerted by one object on another object that is in contact with it.

tension – force exerted by an object that can stretch, such as a string, spring, rope or wire.

normal force – contact force exerted by a surface on an object perpendicular to the surface.

force of gravity – weight

friction force – contact force exerted by a surface on an object parallel to the surface
and opposite to the direction of motion or attempted motion.

static friction force – friction force exerted on an object when it does not move

kinetic friction force –friction force exerted on an object when it moves along
the surface

There are two kinds of contact forces that have special names, friction force and
normal force. The SI unit for force is newton (N).

In the diagram above where a chalkboard duster rests on a plank, the plank exerts a normal
force, F N , on the duster, upwards from and perpendicular to the surface. The duster
exerts an equal force (F D ) on the plank, but in the opposite direction.

When an object is at rest or moves parallel to a surface, the magnitude of the normal
force equals the total force exerted on the object perpendicular to the surface and
pointing towards the surface. This is true as long as the surface does not crack or
break. In many cases, the only force exerted on an object perpendicular to and
pointing towards a surface is the force exerted by the Earth, also called the force of gravity.

The magnitude of the normal force will be different for different objects with different weights.

For example, look at the two books resting on the table in the diagram above Since book A has
twice the mass of book B, it will have twice the weight of book B.

The table will exert twice the normal force on it.

FRICTION

(a)

A chalkboard duster rests on a table. No friction is exerted on the duster because there is nothing to
make it move along the table.
(b)

If a person gently pushes the duster as shown (b), the table will exert a force of static friction on the
duster of the same size, but in the opposite direction. The duster will not move. If the person
increases the applied force by pushing a little harder, the force of static friction will also increase.
This is because the size of the force of static friction changes as the applied force changes

(c)

If the person keeps on pushing harder and harder, the duster will eventually move.

Although the magnitude of the static friction force can change, it has a maximum value
that depends on how uneven the surface is.

A smooth surface will exert a lower maximum static friction force than a rough, uneven
surface.

(d)

Once the duster is moving, the surface exerts a force of kinetic friction on it.

The magnitude of the kinetic friction force is less than the maximum value of the static friction.

REDUCTION OF FRICTION
The force of friction that one surface exerts on another can be reduced by putting a lubricant,
such as oil or grease, on one or both of the surfaces. The lubricant fills the spaces in between the
lumps and bumps, which stops the two uneven surfaces from interlocking.

Relationship between friction force and normal force

HOMEWORK 1
HOMEWORK 2
HOMEWORK 3