BFM 2821 Mechanics Laboratory

Title 3. Block moved quickly as static friction

was overcome.
To verify the sliding friction 4. Result recorded.

Test 3:
Theoretical Fundamental 1. Block turned into its narrow side.
2. Test 1 repeated and result recorded.
1. Friction is the force resisting the
relative motion of the solid surface, Test 4:
fluid layers and or material elements
sliding against each other. 1. Friction block is placed in its initial
2. When surfaces in contact move position as for test 1.
relative each other, the friction 2. Load 0.5,1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0 (N) was added
between two surface converts kinetic on top of the block and the equivalent
energy into heat. One common forces to overcome was determined.
example for this situation happen 3. Result recorded.
when friction is use to start fire.
3. Different surfaces have different Test 5:
resistance. For example, it depends on
what type the two surface slides on, 1. Friction plate was placed on the plane
such as rubber has higher resistance between stops.
compare to shiny metal due to their 2. Friction block was turned upside
characteristics. down.
3. Test 4 repeated and result recorded.
Experimental set-up
Test 6:

1. Friction plate was turned over to

obtain the metal to rubber contact.
2. Load is placed on the hook to obtain
constant speed on the friction block.
3. Test 4 repeated and results recorded.

Result

Weight of friction block = 1.8 N

Weight of hook = 0.2 N

Experiments Procedures Total Weight 1 = Weight of hook + Weight

applied
Test 1:
Total Weight 2, R = Weight of block + Weight
1. Weight was placed on the hook. on the top block
2. The block was pushed, until it was
able to move due to the load applied.
3. Result recorded.

Test 2:

1. Test 1 was repeated without pushing

the block.
2. Weight was placed on the hook until
the block move.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Page 1

 BFM 2821 Mechanics Laboratory

Test 1: Test 4:

Weight Total Weight

Friction weight Weight added Total weight
applied Weight 1 Push placed on peg
movement on hook (N) 2, R (N)
(g) (N) (N)
5 0.25 Yes Not moving 0.5 0.6 2.3
10 0.30 Yes Not moving 1.0 0.8 2.8
20 0.40 Yes Not moving 2.0 0.8 3.8
Moving with 3.0 0.8 4.8
30 0.50 Yes
uniform speed 4.0 0.8 5.8
Moving with
40 0.60 Yes
fast
Moving with
50 0.70 No
faster

Test 2:

Friction
Weight Total weight 1
weight
applied (g) (N)
movement
5 0.25 Not moving
10 0.30 Not moving
20 0.40 Not moving
30 0.50 Not moving
40 0.60 Moving fast
50 0.70 Moving faster

Test 3:

Side 1 Side 2
Test 5:
Weight Total
applied Weight 1 Friction Friction Weight
(g) (N) weight weight Weight added Total weight
Push
movemen
Push
movem placed on peg
on hook (N) 2, R (N)
t ent (N)
Not Not 0.5 0.05 2.3
5 Yes Yes
moving moving
Not Not 1.0 0.05 2.8
10 Yes Yes
moving moving 2.0 0.05 3.8
Not Not
20 Yes
moving
Yes
moving 3.0 0.05 4.8
Moving
Moving 4.0 0.05 5.8
slow
slow with
25 Yes Yes with
uniform
uniform
speed
speed
Moving Moving
faster faster
30 No No
with with
speed speed
Moving Moving
fastest fastest
40 No No
with with
speed speed

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Page 2

 BFM 2821 Mechanics Laboratory

Coefficient of friction is too small to calculate. Law 4:

Assume coefficient of friction, µ = 0
Wihtin rather large limits, kinetic friction is
independent if velocity.

Law 5:

Friction depends upon the nature of the surface

Test 6:
in contact.
Weight
Weight added Total weight (2)
placed on peg
on hook (N) 2, R (N)
(N)  Friction is affected by the area of the
0.5 0.9 2.3 contact between two surfaces because
1.0 0.9 2.8 of the normal forces available on the
2.0 0.9 3.8 object and the roughness of those
3.0 0.9 4.8 surfaces.
4.0 0.1 5.8
(3)

 For low surface pressure the friction is

directly proportional to the pressure
between the surfaces. As the pressure
rises the friction factor rises slightly. A
very high pressure the friction factor
then quickly increases to seizing.

2. When two bodies in contact move with

respect with each other, rubbing the
surfaces in contact the friction between
them is called kinetic friction. The
direction of frictional forces such that
is opposes the relative motion. Friction
forces can also act between two bodies
Discussion which are in contact but not moving or
sliding with respect to each other. The
1. friction in such case is static friction.
(1)
3. The advantages of friction are that may
Law 1: help in walking and braking system.
The drawback of friction is it may
When object is moving, the friction is make movement more difficult if it is
proportional and perpendicular to the normal too high and may waste energy.
force.

Law 2: Conclusion
Friction is dependent of the area of contact so The higher the friction, more force is needed to
long as there is an area of contact. move an object. Pressure is one of the factors
that affect the friction.
Law 3:

The coefficient of static friction is slightly

greater than the coefficient of kinetic friction.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Page 3