Analysis

In this experiment, frictionless pulleys, strings, woods and weights are used to investigate
and study the factors that affect friction. The one being manipulated in this experiment or the
independent variables are the surface area and the mass of the object and the dependent variable
here is the coefficient of friction. There are three conditions in which the experiment were tested;
one is difference in mass of black, second is difference in surface area, and the last one is the
difference in surface material. All of these are tested and compared to observe which affects the
value of the coefficient of friction.
In experiment 6A, the first to test was the difference in surface area. When the large surface
area was used, it was found out that the block’s coefficient of kinetic friction are 0.406, 0.418, and
0.432. On the other hand, when the small surface area was tested, it shows a result of 0.436, 0.416,
and 0.402. From the results, it was observed that there are no significant difference on the trials
between the large surface area and small surface area. Hence, the size of surface area does not
affect the value of the coefficient of kinetic friction. Next to compare is the difference in mass of
the block. When a 100 g of mass was added to the block (244g –block), it was found out that there
is a change in the coefficient of kinetic friction but this change is not significant as the difference
between the coefficient of a 122g-block is minimal. There are 2 conditions in which the difference
in mass was tested. In large surface area, it was calculated that the differences of the results of
244g-block from a 122g-block are 6.21% (from run 1) and 3.29% (from run 2) . In small surface
its differences are 8.11% (from run 4) and 3.42% (from run 5). All of the differences in both
conditions showed no significant difference with a maximum of only 8%. From this calculation, it
was found out that the mass of the object does not affect the value of coefficient of kinetic friction.
Last to compare is the difference in surface material. Two types of surface materials were tested—
wood to wood and felt to wood. Multiples runs were conducted in each material. The average of
the runs of wood to wood and felt to wood are 0.418 and 0.342 respectively. From this data, it was
calculated that their difference is 20%. This only means that there is a significant difference in the
coefficient of kinetic friction when there is a change in the type of surface material. In other words,
the type of surface material can affect the value of coefficient of kinetic friction.
Conclusion

From this experiment, the students were able to measure the coefficient of frictions of
different masses and of different area of contact surfaces. All of the data gathered were compared
to each other and there were trends that was observed. It was found out that the coefficient of
friction does not significantly change no matter how much mass is added to the block and it does
not depend on the area of contact between the surfaces. The coefficient of friction only depends
on the materials of the two surfaces, such as their composition and roughness.
There are a number of possible factors that contributed to the experimental error. One factor
is there may be some impurities in the block and in the flat wood in which the block was sided. If
impurities are present, such as surface dirts, holes, or cracks, it can increase the value of friction.
Second, there may be inconsistencies in the point of reference where the block was released. Third,
the height of the pulley was not set parallel to the string connected to the block. Fourth, there was
a force exerted on the block when releasing it. Fifth, the mass of the hanger was neglected. And
lastly, there may be some errors in calculating the coefficient of friction, for example, incorrect
input of data in the calculator.

References

https://www.emich.edu/physicsastronomy/facilities/course_labs/long_lab_report_nf2.pdf

http://citronphysics.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/8/6/23869175/dyanmics_-_example_lab_report_2_-
_coefficient_of_friction.pdf