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School Name Date

Class (No.) Subject Mark

AL Practical Physics

A1 Force of friction
Procedure 2. Increase slowly the pulling force from zero until the block starts to move. Take 5 readings of the spring balance during the process. 1 Reading 0.5 2 1.1 3 1.4 4 1.8 5 2.2

3. Pull the moving block at a constant speed as shown. Take 5 readings of the spring balance. 1 Reading 4. 1.4 2 1.5 3 1.4 4 1.5 5 1.4

Plot a graph of frictional force (static and kinetic) against the applied force.
Frictional force vs Apllied force (wood on wood)

3 2.5

Frictional force (N)

1.5 1

0.5 0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Apppied force (N)

Note : Assume the kinetic friction is a constant when the applied forces increases.

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5. Connect the spring balance to a wooden block. Pull slowly the spring balance until the block starts to move. Record the value of the applied force (F = fL) that just sets the block in motion. Fill in the table below. Number of blocks Applied Limiting friction (fL) Kinetic friction (fk) Normal force (R) 5.3 10.6 15.9 21.3 Take g = 10.0 m s2 and mass (1 wooden block) = 0.53 kg. 8. Plot the graph of the limiting static friction (fL) against the normal force (R). Since fL =s R, find the value of coefficient of static friction (s) from the graph.
fs ve rsus R (wood on wood)

1 2.4

2 4.5

3 6.3

4 8.8

force (F) static 1.5 2.9 3.9 5.4

10 9 8 7 6 fs (N) 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 5

10 R (N)

15

20

25

The slope of the straight line ( s ) = 0.42

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9. Plot the graph of the kinetic friction ( fk) against the normal force (R). Since fk = k R, find the value of coefficient of kinetic friction (k) from the graph.

6 5 4 fk (N) 3 2 1 0 0 5

fk ve rsus R (wood on wood)

10 R (N)

15

20

25

The slope of the straight line ( k ) = 0.26 10. Repeat steps 5 to 9 by replacing the wooden block with the bricks. Find the values ofs andk for the bricks. Number of blocks Applied Limiting friction (fL) Kinetic friction (fk) Normal force (R) 15.2 30.4 45.6 60.8 Mass (1 wooden block) = 1.52 kg 6.5 11.9 19.3 26.2 force (F) static 1 9.2 2 18.5 3 26.5 4 35.8

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40 35 30 25 fs (N) 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20

fs ve rsus R (brick on wood)

30 R (N)

40

50

60

70

The slope of the straight line ( s ) = 0.63

30 25 20 fk (N) 15 10 5 0 0 10 20

fk ve rsus R (brick on wood)

30 R (N)

40

50

60

70

The slope of the straight line ( k ) = 0.39 11. Repeat steps 5 to 9 by replacing the bricks with the steel blocks. Find the values ofs andk for the steel blocks. Number of blocks Applied Limiting friction (fL) force (F) static 1 18.3 2 34.7 3 50.8 4 70.1

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Kinetic friction (fk) Normal force (R)

13.4 20.2

25.6 40.4

38.6 60.6

52.2 80.8

Mass (1 wooden block) = 2.02 kg

80 70 60 50 fs (N) 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30

fs versus R (steel on wood)

40 R (N)

50

60

70

80

90

The slope of the straight line ( s ) = 0.87.

60 50 40 fs (N) 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30

fk versus R (steel on wood)

40 R (N)

50

60

70

80

90

The slope of the straight line ( k ) = 0.65

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12. Connect the spring balance to a wooden block. Then pile another wooden block on the top of the original wooden block. Pull the spring balance attached to the two blocks in pile at a constant speed. Record the applied force ( F = fk ) from the spring balance in the table below. Number of blocks Pile up Applied force F (Kinetic friction fk) Normal force R (weight of the blocks) 10.6 10.6 15.9 15.9 21.3 21.3 2.9 2 Side by side 3.1 3.9 Pile up 3 Side by side 3.7 5.4 Pile up 4 Side by side 4.9

Results and Discussion 1. Describe the shapes of the graphs plotted in step 4. The graph shows the magnitude of the force of friction versus the applied force. The force of friction at the contact surfaces between the block and the bench is opposite to the applied force. The force of static friction equals the applied force as the block remains static. When the applied force exceeds the force of kinetic friction, the block starts to move. In general, the force of kinetic friction stays constant as the block continues to move along on the bench. It is note that the maximum force of static friction is greater than the force of kinetic friction. 2. Comment the case that when the applied force is smaller than the static friction. When the applied force is smaller than the static friction, the block will remain stationary.

3. Explain why the coefficient of kinetic friction is smaller than the coefficient of static friction. When the block is set in motion, the block actually slips over the bench. This slipping motion indicates the retarding frictional force (i.e. the kinetic friction) is less than the maximum force of static friction.

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4. Compare the values of coefficients of friction for wooden blocks, steel blocks and bricks. The coefficient of kinetic friction is less than the coefficient of the static friction in all three examined cases. The heavier the block of same materials produces greater force of friction. In general, the coefficient of friction depends on the nature of the surfaces. Some values of s and k for different surfaces are given in Table A1. Table A1 Coefficients of friction (approximate values)

s
Glass on glass Ice on ice Rubber on concrete Steel on steel Teflon on Teflon Wood on wood 0.94 0.1 1.0 0.74 0.04 0.25 0.5

k
0.4 0.03 0.8 0.57 0.04 0.2

4. Referring to the table in step 12, compare the results of the blocks in pile and placed side by side. State your findings on the effect of contact surface area The results show that the force of friction between the blocks and the bench does not depend on the area of the contacted surface.

5. State the sources of error and suggest improvements for this experiment. (a) The value of fk (shown on the spring balance) is taken when the block is just set in motion. The applied force recorded at this short instant of time is assumed to be the same as the maximum force of static friction. Reading from the spring balance may cause error especially viewing in a short time. (b) (c) The block was not moving in a straight line. The surfaces are not fully in contact with each other due to the regularities of the

surfaces. 7. Give a conclusion to this experiment. The coefficient of kinetic friction is less than the coefficient of static friction. They vary for the nature of the contacted surface.

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