BFM 2821 Mechanics Laboratory
Title
To verify the sliding friction
Theoretical Fundamental
1. Friction is the force resisting the
relative motion of the solid surface,
fluid layers and or material elements
sliding against each other.
2. When surfaces in contact move
relative each other, the friction
between two surface converts kinetic
energy into heat. One common
example for this situation happen
when friction is use to start fire.
3. Different surfaces have different
resistance. For example, it depends on
what type the two surface slides on,
such as rubber has higher resistance
compare to shiny metal due to their
characteristics.
Experimental set-up
Experiments Procedures
Test 1:
1. Weight was placed on the hook.
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.
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3. Block moved quickly as static friction
was overcome.
4. Result recorded.
Test 3:
1. Block turned into its narrow side.
2. Test 1 repeated and result recorded.
Test 4:
1. Friction block is placed in its initial
position as for test 1.
2. Load 0.5,1.0,2.0,3.0,4.0 (N) was added
on top of the block and the equivalent
forces to overcome was determined.
3. Result recorded.
Test 5:
1. Friction plate was placed on the plane
between stops.
2. Friction block was turned upside
down.
3. Test 4 repeated and result recorded.
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
Total Weight 1 = Weight of hook + Weight
applied
Total Weight 2, R = Weight of block + Weight
on the top block
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 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

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 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.

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