1

It is one of the most important chapter in Physics.This is the beginning of dissipative

nature of force which causes and ceases motion. The chapter needs the
understanding of Newton's Laws of motion and kinematical equations. In this chapter
we shall discuss the various aspects of friction between solid surfaces. Although this
chapter is not presciribed in RPET syllabus but questions are being asked. Friction is
a day to day phenomenon of the life that is why it may be incorporated with various
articles of mechanics.
This book consists of theoritical & practical explanations of all the concepts involved in
the chapter. Each article followed by a ladder of illustration. At the end of the theory
part, there are miscellaneous solved examples which involve the application of multiple
concepts of this chapter.
Students are advised to go through all these solved examples in order to develope better
understanding of the chapter and to have better grasping level in the class.
FRICTION
Preface

Total number of Questions in Friction are :
In Chapter Examples ............................................................ 03
Solved Examples .................................................................. 10
Total no. of questions ......................................................... 13
FRICTION
2
1. FRICTION AND FRICTIONAL FORCE
(a) If we slide or try to slide a body over a surface
the motion is resisted by a bonding between
the body and the surface. This resistance is
represented by a single force and is called
friction.
(b) The force of friction is parallel to the surface
and opposite to the direction of intended
motion.
(c) Force of friction is partically independent of
microscopic area of surface in contact and
relative velocity between them.
(if it is not high)
(d) However, it depends on the nature of material
of the surface in contact (force of adhesion)
and their roughness and smoothness.
(e) Normally with increase in smoothness friction
decreases. But if the surface area are made
too smooth by polishing and cleaning the
bonding force of adhesion will increase and
so the friction will increase resulting in 'Cold
welding'
(f) Friction is a non conservative force, i.e. work
done against friction is path dependent.
(g) In its presence mechanical energy is not
conserved. Thus friction reduces efficiency of
a machine.
(h) It is a general misconception that friction
always opposes the motion. No doubt friction
opposes the motion of a moving body but in
many cases it is also the cause of motion.
(i) In moving a person or Vehicle pushes the
ground backwards (action) and the rough
surface of ground reacts and exerts a forward
force due to friction which causes the motion
if there had been no friction there will be
slipping and no motion
(j) There are three types of frictional force
depending upon the nature of relative motion
between the bodies.
2. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF FRICTION
3. TYPES OF FRICTIONAL FORCE AND THEIR
DEFINITION
There are three types of frictional force
3.1 Static friction
3.2 Dynamic friction & Sliding friction
3.3 Rolling friction
3.1 Static fri ction :
(a) The frictional force which is effective before
motion starts between two planes in contact
with each other, is known as static friction.
(b) If a body is at rest and no pulling force is
acting on it, force of friction on it is zero (and
not R)
(c) Now if a force is applied to pull the body and
it does not move, the friction acts which is
equal in magnitude and opposite in direction
to the applied force [again not R], i.e. friction
is self acting force.
(d) If the applied force is increased the force of
static friction also increases.
(e) If the applied force exceeds a certain
(Minimum) value, the body starts moving.
(f) The maximum force of static friction upto
which body does not move is called limiting
friction (f
L
)
(g) Static friction is a self adjusting force with an
upper limit, called limiting friction.
(h) f
L
R f
L
=
s
R
where f
L
=limiting friction
R =normal reaction

s
= coefficient of static friction
(i)
s
depends on the nature of surface in
contact and force of adhesion between them.
3.2 Dynamic friction (
K
)
(a) If the applied force is increased further and
sets the body in motion, the friction opposing
the motion is called dynamic or kinetic
friction.
(b) Kinetic friction is lesser than limiting friction.
(c) f
K
=
K
R, where
K
is called coefficient of
kinetic friction.
(d) f
L
>f
K

S
>
K
i.e. we require more force to start a motion
than to maintain it against friction.
(e) The frictional force, which is effective on
sliding of two surfaces in contact with each
other is known as the sliding friction.
VARIATION WITH APPLIED FORCE
3
3.3 Roll ing fri ction (
R
) :
(a) When a body (say wheel) rolls on a surface
the resistance offered by the surface is called
rolling friction.
(b) In rolling the surfaces at contact do not rub
each other.
(c) The velocity of point of contact with respect
to the surface remains zero all the time
although the centre of the wheel moves
forward
(d)
R
<
K
<
S
(e) Coefficient of friction has no unit and is
dimensionless.
4. ANGLE OF FRICTION ()
4.1 Mathematical significance : The angle of friction
(|) may be defined as the angle between the
normal reaction N and the resultant of friction
force f and the normal reaction.
Thus tan | =
f
N
since f = N . therefore
tan | =
4.2 Physical Signifi cance : The angle of repose (|)
is that minimum angle of inclination of the inclined
plane at which a body placed at rest on the
inclined plane is about to slide down in
equillibrium condition.
N =mg cos u
and mg sin u =f s f
max
if u = | then f =f
max
.
mg sin | = f
max
= N
mg sin | = mg cos |
tan | =
(a) When u s | (or tan
1
) the body is in
equilibrium
(b) When the angle of inclination is more than
the angle of friction (u >|) the block starts
sliding down.
4.3 Conditions for equi li brium of block
(Depending upon the direction of applied force)
(a) Force parallel to the incline
(b) Force normal to the incline
(c) External Horizontal force
(a) Force parall el to the i ncli ne

(i) When u > | the friction force acting at its
maximum value
(f
max
= N) is incapable of keeping the block
stationary.
Therefore, parallel force is required to keep
the block in equillibrium
(ii) The minimum value of this force is
(F
p
)
min
= mg sin u f
max
(F
p
)
min
= mg (sin u cos u)
(iii) If a force slightly greater than (F
p
)
min
is
applied, then the block does not start moving
up, but the force of friction force gets reduced.
(iv) It becomes to zero when the external force
attains a value equal to
F
p
= mg sin u.
When the force is further increased
(F
p
> mg sin u). The block has a tendency
to move upward and direction of friction force
gets reversed
(v) The block does not start moving up unless
the external force attains the maximum value.
The maximum value of F
p
is given by
(F
p
)
max
=mg sin u +f
max
=mg(sin u + cos u)
Conclusion :
The block remains stationary if
(F
p
)
min
s F
p
s (F
p
)
max
mg (sin u cos u) s F
p
s mg (sin u + cos u)

(i) Force F
N
applied normal to the inclined plane
increases the magnitude of the frictional force
by increasing the normal reaction.
f
N
mg cosu
u =|
mg sinu
(b) Force Normal to the incli ne (F
N
)
FRICTION
4
(ii) Therefore N = mg cos u + F
N
when F
N
has its minimum value (F
N
)
min
the
friction force acting at its maximum value is
just capable of preventing the block from
sliding down.
(iii) That is mg sin u = f
max
= N
= [mg cos u + (F
N
)
min
]
or (F
N
)
min
=
m

g (sin u cos u)
(iv) It is important to note that whatever may be
the magnitude of F
N
, the block never attains
a tendency to slide upward.
(v) When the magnitude of F
N
is more than its
minimum value (F
N
)
min
then only the
magnitude of friction forces decreases.
Conclusion :
The block remains stationary if
F
N
> (F
N
)
min
F
N
>
mg

(sin u cos u)
(c) External Horizontal Force
It serves two purposes :
(i) It supports the frictional force
(ii) It increases the normal reaction and thus
increases the magnitude of the limiting force
of friction
Mi ni mum Horizontal force (F
H
)
min
:-
(i) When the horizontal force acts as its
minimum value, the friction force acts at its
maximum value.
(ii) Applying the conditions of equation parallel
and normal to the plane we get.

(F
H
)
min
cos u = mg sin u f
max
and(F
H
)
min
sin u + mg cos u =N
and F
max
= N
Solving these
(F
H
)
min
= mg
sin cos
cos sin
u u
u u

+
L
N
M
O
Q
P
Maxi mum Horizontal Force : (F
H
)
max
(iii) As the magnitude of F
H
is slightly increased
from its minimum value, the block does not
start moving up, it remains stationary
(iv) But the magnitude of the friction force starts
decreasing and it becomes equal to zero
when F
H
= mg tan u.
(v) If F
H
is further increased, the block has
tendency to move upward and it just starts
moving up when F
H
attains its maximum value.
(vi) From the free body diagram of the block
(F
H
)
max
cos u = mg sin u + f
max
and(F
H
)
max
sin u + mg cos u =N
since f
max
=N therefore
(F
H
)
max
= mg
sin cos
cos sin
u u
u u
+

L
N
M
O
Q
P
Conclusion
The box remains stationary if
(F
H
)
min
s F
H
s (F
H
)
max
mg
sin cos
cos sin
u u
u u

+
L
N
M
O
Q
Ps F
H
s mg
sin cos
cos sin
u u
u u
+

L
N
M
O
Q
P
5. MINIMUM FORCE REQUIRED TO MOVE A
BLOCK
(a) Applied force serves two purposes :
(i) it reduces the normal reaction, thus
reduces the frictional force.
(ii) It tends to move the block along the
surface
(b) Minimum value of F occurs at an angle u at
which the normal reaction is reduced so
much that the limiting friction becomes just
equal to the horizontal component of the
applied force.
(c) It happens when the block is pulled at an
angle equal to the angle of friction u =|
(d) Mathematically
F cos u = N = (mg F sin u)
F (cos u + sin u) = mg
Differentiating the equation with respect to u
and putting
dF
du
= 0 for minimum value of F,,
u = tan
1

F
u
m
5
Fri ction
Ex.1 A body of mass m is released from the top
of a rough inclined plane as shown in figure.
If the frictional force be F, then body will
reach the bottom with a velocity
(A)
2
m
FL (mgh ) (B)
1
m
FL (mgh )
(C)
2
m
FL (mgh ) + (D) None
Sol.(A)
Loss in P.E. in reaching the bottom = mgh
and gain in K.E. reaching the bottom =
1
2
mv
2
where v is velocity gained by the body in
reaching the bottom
Net loss in energy =mgh
1
2
mv
2
work done against friction =FL
mgh
1
2
mv
2
= FL
v =
2
m
FL (mgh )
Ex.2 A block of mass 2 kg is placed on the floor.
The coefficient of static friction is 0.4.
A force F of 2.5 N is applied on the block, as
shown. Calculate the force of friction between
the block and the floor. (g = 9.8 ms
2
)
(A) 2.5 N
(B) 25 N
(C) 7.84 N
(D) zero
Sol.(A)
Let R be the normal reaction on the block
exerted by the floor. The limiting (maximum)
force of static friction is
f
s
=
s
R =
s
mg
=0.4 x 2kg x 9.8 ms
2
=7.84 N
The applied force F is 2.5 N, that is less
than the limiting frictional force. Hence under
the force F, the block does not move. So
long the block does not move, the (adjustable)
frictional force is always equal to the applied
force. Thus the frictional force is 2.5 N.
Ex.3 A block is kept on a horizontal table. The
table is undergoing simple harmonic motion
of frequency 3 Hz in a horizontal plane. The
coefficient of static friction between the block
and the table surface is 0.72. Find the
maximum amplitude of the table at which the
block does not slip on the surface (g =10ms
2
)
(A) 0.01 m (B) 0.02 m
(C) 0.03 m (D) 0.04 m
Sol .(B) When the block does not slip on the table
surface, it performs simple harmonic motion
along with the table.
x =a sin et
The instantaneous acceleration of the block
is
d x
dt
2
2
= e
2
a sin et
The maximum acceleration is
d x
dt
2
2
max
=e
2
a
The maximum force on the block is
f
max
=me
2
a
where m is its mass. The frictional force on
the block is mg. since the block is at rest
with respect to the table, we have
me
2
a = mg
(2tf)
2
a =g a =

t
g
f 4
2 2
=
072 10
4 314 3
2 2
.
( . )
x
x x
= 0.02 m
m
Examples
based on
FRICTION
6
SOLVED EXAMPLE
F
N
f
(
u
mg
u
f
N
M
m
F
f =N
mg
N
N N
1
f =N F
Mg
Ex.1 A body of mass 400 g slides on a rough
horizontal surface if the frictional force is
3.0 N. Find
(a) the angle made by the contact force on
the body with the vertical.
(b) the magnitude of the contact force .
(g =10 m/s
2
)
Sol. Let the contact force on the block by the
surface be F which makes an angle u with
the vertical. The component of F
perpendicular to the contact surface is the
normal force N and the component F parallel
to the surface is the friction f. As the surface
is horizontal, N is vertically upward. For
vertical equilibrium
N =Mg = (0.400) (10) = 4.0 N
The frictional force is f = 3.0 N
(a) tan u =
f
N
=
3
4
u =
4
3
tan

=37
(b) The magnitude of the contact force is
F =
N f
2 2
+
=
( ) ( ) 4 3
2 2
+
= 5.0 N
Ex.2 The coefficient of static friction between a
block of mass m and an incline is
s
=0.3
What can be the maximum angle u of the
incline with the horizontal so that the block
does not slip on the plane?
Sol. The forces on the block are
(i) the weight mg downward by the earth
(ii) the normal contact force N by the incline,
and
(iii) the friction f parallel to the incline up the
plane, by the incline.
As the block is at rest, these forces should
add up to zero. Also since u is the maximum
angle to prevent slipping, this is a case of
limiting equilibrium and so
f =
S
N
Taking component perpendicular to the
lncline,
N mg cos u = 0 N = mg cos u ....... (1)
Taking component parallel to the incline
f mg sin u = 0 f = mg sin u ........ (2)

S
N =mg sin u
Dividing (2) by (1)
s
= tanu
u = tan
1

S
= tan
1
(0.3)
Ex.3 The coefficient of static friction between the
two blocks shown in figure is and the table
is smooth. What maximum horizontal force
F can be applied to the block of mass M so
that the blocks move together?
Sol. When the maximum force F is applied, both
the blocks move together towards right. The
only horizontal force on the upper block of
mass m is that due to the friction by the
lower block of mass M. Hence this force on
m should be towards right. The force of
friction on M by m should be towards left by
Newton's third law. As we are talking of the
minimum possible force F that can be applied,
the friction is limiting and hence
f = N, where N is normal force.
in the vertical direction, there is no
acceleration N = mg
in the horizontal direction, let the acceleration
be a, then
N =ma
mg = ma
a = g
Next consider the motion of M
The equation of motion is
F = N = Ma
F mg =Mg
F = g (M + m)
7
F
R
2
R
1
f
1
S
A
B
R
1
B
f
2
S
f
1
F
R
2
A
f
2
F
R
2
A
f
2
R
1
f
1
u
m
M
u
N
1
mg
N
1
T
N
2
mg
N
2
M
m
N
mg
F
f
S
=N
u
Ex.4 Block A weights 4 N and block B weight 8 N.
The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.25 for all
surfaces. Find the force F to slide B at a
constant speed when A rests on B and moves
with it.
Sol. When A moves with B the force opposing the
motion is the only force of friction between B
and S the horizontal and velocity of the
system is constant
F = f
1
= R
1
= 0.25 (4 +8) =3N
Ex.5 In the above example find the force F to slide
B at a constant speed when A is held at
rest.
Sol. When A is held stationary the friction opposing
the motion is between A and B and B and S.
So
F = R
1
+ R
2
= 3 + 0.25 (4)
F =3 +1 =4 N
Ex.6 In the exampl e 4 find the force F to slide B
at constant speed when A and B are
connected by a light cord passing over a
smooth fully.
Sol. In this situation for dynamic equilibrium of B
F = R
1
+ R
2
+ T ..... (1)
While for the uniform motion of A
T = R
2
............ (2)
Substituting T from Equation (2) in (1) we get
F = R
1
+ 2R
2
= 3 + 2 x 1 =5N
Ex.7 Find the maximum value of M/m in the
situation shown in figure so that the system
remains at rest. Friction coefficient at both
the contacts is . Discuss the situation when
tan u <
Sol. Figure shows the forces acting on the two
blocks. As we are looking for the maximum
value of M/m, the equilibrium is limiting.
Hence the frictional forces are equal to
times corresponding normal force.
Equilibrium of the block m gives
T =N
1
and N
1
= mg T = mg .... (1)
Next consider the equilibrium of the block M.
Taking components parallel to the incline
T + N
2
= Mg sin u
Taking components normal to the Incline
N
2
= Mg cos u
These give T =Mg (sin u cos u) ...... (2)
From (1) and (2) mg = Mg (sin u cos u)
M
m
=

u u sin cos
if tan u < , then sin u cos u < 0 and the
system will not slide from any value of M/m.
Ex.8 A block placed on a horizontal surface is
being pushed by a force F making an angle
u with the vertical if the friction coefficient is
, how much force is needed to get the block
just started. Discuss the situation when
tan u < .
Sol. The situation is shown in figure in the limiting
equilibriums the frictional force f will be equal
to N.
FRICTION
8
For horizontal equilibrium
F sin u = N
For vertical equilibrium
F cos u + mg =N
Eliminating N from these equations
F sin u = F cos u + mg
F =
) cos (sin u u

if tan u < we have (sin u cos u) <0 and
then F is negative. So for angles less than
tan
1
, one can not push the block ahead,
however large the force may be.
Ex.9 Assuming the length of a chain to be L and
coefficient of static friction . Compute the
maximum length of the chain which can be
held outside a table without sliding.
Sol. If y is the maximum length of chain which
can be hang out side the table without sliding,
then for equilibrium of the chain, the weight
of hanging part must be balanced by force of
friction from the portion on the table
W =f
L
....... (1)
But from figure W =
M
L
y g and
R =W' =
M
L
(L y)g
So that f
L
= R =
M
L
(L y) g
Substituting these values of W and f
L
in
equation (1) we get
M
L
yg =
M
L
(L y) g
Ex.10 If the coefficient of friction between an insect
and bowl is and the radius of the bowl is
r, find the maximum height to which the insect
can crawl in the bowl.
Sol. The insect will crawl up the bowl till the
component of its weight along the bowl is
balanced by limiting friction so, resolving
weight perpendicular to the bowl and along
the bowl we get
R =mg sin u
f
L
= mg cos u
tanu =

=
1
R
R
f
R
1
1
L

1
y R
y
2 2

2
y
2
=R
2
y
2

y =
1
R
2
1
+
So, h =R-y =R
1
R
2
+
=R
(
(

) 1 (
1
1
2
W
L y
W '
f
L
y
R
R
y
R
mgsinu
mgcosu
f
L
)u