LAB EXPERIMENT 07

Student Name: ______________________________________

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ID No.

Signature of the lab tutor: _________________________

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Date:

To Determine Angle of Repose of a Fabric on a

Stainless Steel Plane

Performance Objective
Upon successful completion of this experiment, the student will be able to:
i)
Understand what is angle of repose.
ii)
Measure the angle of repose
iii)
Know the effect inclination on frictional contact
Apparatus
A Stainless Steel Platform with Variable Angle, Piece of Fabric to be Tested and Wooden Block.
Discussion / Theory
When a body rests on a flat surface and the inclination of the flat surface is increased gradually,
then the inclination at which the body just starts moving is called the angle of repose. The forces
acting on the body at an inclination of are shown in Figer : 7.1

Figer 7.1

F is the frictional force and its magnitude is given as,

F = W sin
N is the normal force and its magnitude is given as,
N = W cos
As we know that co-efficient of friction is given by,
=F/N
Therefore, in this case, the co-efficient is given by,
= W sin / W cos
or
Hence,
(7.1)

sin
cos

= tan

where

sin
cos

= tan

Procedure / Method
1. Cover the wooden block with the fabric to be tested in such a way that the surface of
fabric must be free creases and weight it. Weight of the block = W.
2. Place the wooden block on the stainless surface.
3. Now increase the inclination of steel platform slowly.
4. Keep increasing the inclination till block starts moving.
5. Note the angle / inclination () at which the block starts moving.
6. Repeat the procedure five times and note the inclination each time.
7. Calculate the average value of the angle.
8. Calculate the co-efficient of friction from the value of average inclination.
Calculation
Angle of Repose =
Average = /n, where n is number of observations
Normal Force = N = W cos
Frictional Force = F = W sin
Co-efficient of friction = = tan

Test Result / Report

1. Fabric Specifications
2. Angle of Repose
3. Average Angle of Repose
4. Weight of the Block
5. Frictional Force
6. Normal Force
7. Co-efficient of Friction
Fabric Specification:
i) Material (Fabric)
ii) Construction
iii) Condition (Grey / Treated / Dyed / Printed / Finished)
If finished, specify type of finish.

Observation
No.

Angle of Repose =
(radian / degree)

Average Angle of
Repose
(radian / degree)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Weight of the Block

W = mg (newton)

Frictional Force
F = W sin (newton)

Normal Force
N = W cos (newton)

Co-efficient of Friction
= tan

OBSERVATIONS:
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Review Question
1. Discuss the effect of inclination on co-efficient of friction?
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2. If the angle of repose of a body is 1, then briefly discuss about its friction?
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Final Checklist:
1. Clean your apparatus and workbench before you leave.
2. Keep the apparatus back to their proper places.
3. Submit your answer to questions and result before the next laboratory experiment according
to the time table.