ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS IN FRICTION

EXAMPLE 5.2
The mass of body A is 45 kg. The coefficient
of friction for bodies A, B, and the ramp C is
0.10. Neglecting friction between the string
and the ramp, find the smallest mass of B for
which equilibrium of the system can exist.
Solution:
We illustrate in this example an alternative
way of solving problems on friction. Instead of
resolving the reaction at a rough surface into a
normal component and a frictional component,
we can represent it by just one force which
makes an angle (limiting angle of friction)
with the normal to the surface of contact.

FBD of A

The mass of B is minimum when motion of A

downward is impending. Hence, in the FBD of
A, the total reaction RCA is positioned in such a
way that its frictional component is opposed to
the direction of impending motion.
Recall that the tangent of the angle of friction
s equal to the coefficient of friction, i.e.,
-1
= tan 0.10 = 5.71 .

From the force polygon for body A, we have

Force polygon for A

sin 95.71 sin 24.29

=
441.5
T
T = 182.5 N
From the force polygon for body B, we get

sin 50.71 sin 84.29

=
182.5
9.81M B
MB = 23.92 kg

FBD of B

Force polygon for B

EXAMPLE 5.3
A 68-kg man climbs up a step ladder A
while another tries to hold the ladder in
place by applying a 200 N horizontal force
at point (1). If the coefficient of friction
for all contiguous surfaces is = 0.20,
determine if the ladder will slide when the
first man reaches point 2) of the ladder.

Solution:
There are three possibilities to consider here, namely:
1. The 200 N force is too small to hold the ladder in place so that the ladder
slides away from the wall.
2. The 200 N force is too large and the ladder slides towards the wall.
3. The applied force is adequate to hold the ladder in place.

To verify the first possibility, the free

body diagram of the ladder is drawn and
the force P that will just prevent the ladder
from sliding away from the wall is
determined.
Two equations in the two unknowns
NCA and NBA are obtained by summing
forces in the vertical direction and
summing moments about point (1).
FBD for impending motion
away from the wall.
FV = 0 = NCA + 0.20NBA - 667
M1 = 0 = -3.3NBA - 0.20NBA (3.3/tan60) + 667(1.8/tan60)
-0.20NCA (1.2) + NCA (1.2/tan60)
Solving the above equations simultaneously, we obtain
NBA = 263. N
NCA = 614.2 N.
The value of the force P for impending motion of the ladder towards the right is found by
summing forces in the horizontal direction..
FH = 0 263.9 - 0.20(614.2) - P
P = 141.1 N.

At this stage, we know that the 200 N force is

sufficient to prevent the ladder from sliding
away from the wall. The second possibility will
now be investigated. To do this, the minimum
force Q necessary to move the ladder towards
the wall will be determined. The FBD of A
when the force Q is acting is shown at the left.
We write three equations of equilibrium to
determine Q.

FBD for impending motion

towards the wall.

FV = 0 = NCA - 0.20NBA - 667

M1 = 0 = -3.3NBA + 0.20NBA (3.3/tan60) + 6671.8/tan60)
+ 0.20NCA(1.2) + NCA1.2/tan60)
The roots of the above equations are
NBA = 481.5 N

and

NCA = 763.3 N.

Summing forces along the horizontal, we have

FH = 0 = 481.5 + 0.20(763.3) - Q
Q = 634.2 N
The applied force is only 200 N so that the ladder will not move towards the wall.
Therefore, the 200 N force holds the ladder in place.

PROBLEMS
5.1 The maximum mass that block B
can have without causing the 50-kg
block A to move is to be
determined. The mass of C is
negligible. If AD = 0.20 and
BD = 0.30, a) What is the direction
of impending motion for A? b)
Draw two free body diagrams of A
showing two ways of representing
the action of D on A.

5.2

How much is the frictional force

exerted by the floor B on the 80-kg
block A if AB = 0.30?

5.3 What is the frictional force that the

inclined plane B exerts on the 120kg body A? AB = 0.50

5.4 Two identical blocks B and C each

with a mass of 0 kg hold block A in
place. The coefficients of friction
are:
BD = CD = 0.18
AB = AC = 0.12
What is the mass of A if motion of
the blocks is impending?
5.5 Blocks A and B have masses of 45 kg
and 25 kg, respectively. Find the force
P that will cause motion of A to impend
towards the left. The coefficient of
friction for all rubbing surfaces is =
0.20.
5.6 Determine the maximum mass M that
can be suspended to the cord without
causing the blocks to move. The
masses of A and B are 20 kg and 40 kg,
respectively; AB = BC = 0.20. Neglect
friction between the cord and body C.

5.7

The 70-kg rod A leans against a smooth

wall C and rests on a rough surface B.
In the position shown, motion of the rod
is impending. Find the reaction at B.
What is the coefficient of friction
between A and B?

5.8 The 35-kg block A leans against a

smooth wall D and is connected to a
second block B by a massless rod C.
Motion of the system is impending when
the mass of B is 90 kg. Find the
coefficient of friction between B and E.

5.9 Block B has a mass of 45 kg. The

limiting angle of friction between the
blocks A and B and the supporting
body C is 12 . Find the mass of A
that will cause impending motion of
B up the plane. Neglect friction
between the cord and body C.

5.10 Block A has a mass of 50 kg and the

mass of the horizontal bar C is
negligible. Find the minimum mass of
block B for which the system will be
in equilibrium. The coefficient of
friction is 0.20 for all rubbing surfaces.

5.11

Rod C which has negligible mass

connects blocks A and B. What is the
minimum mass of A that will prevent
slipping if the mass of B is 450 kg?
The limiting angle of friction for all
rubbing surfaces is 20 .

5.12 Block A has a mass of 45 kg and block B

has a mass of 110 kg. What is the
minimum force P applied on A that will
hold the system in equilibrium? The
coefficient of friction for all contiguous
surfaces is 0.20.

5.13

Two blocks A and B are

connected by bar C whose
mass is negligible. What force
P will just prevent the blocks
from slipping down the plane?
AD = 0.20
BD = 0.30

5.14 The 450-kg block A is to be raised

by applying a force P to the 35-kg
wedge B. Determine the minimum
force P needed to do this. The
coefficient of friction for all
rubbing surfaces is 0.10.

5.15 Bodies A and B have masses of 20 kg

and 80 kg, respectively.
The
coefficients of friction are AB =
0.10, AD = 0.05, and BC = 0.00.
Find the least value of P that will
hold the system in equilibrium.

5.16 Block A has a mass of 80 kg. Find the

minimum force P necessary to pull out
the 100-kg block B. AB = 0.30 and
BD = 0.20

5.17 Body A has a mass of 50 kg. The

coefficient of friction is 0.20 for all
contiguous surfaces. What is the
smallest force P that can cause the
100-kg block B to move?

5.18 The 100-kg block A rests on top of block

B. The coefficients of friction are AB =
0.15 and BC = 0.20. neglecting friction
at D, find the mass of B if motion of B is
impending down the plane.

Problems 5.18 & 5.19

5.19 Suppose the mass of block B in Prob.

5.18 is 100 kg. Using the same values
of coefficient of friction, find the mass
of A if motion of B is impending up the
plane.
5.20 Determine the maximum mass of body B
for which the system will be in
equilibrium if the mass of block A is 20
kg. The pulley is frictionless and AC =
BC = 0.10.

5.21

In Prob. 5.20, will the blocks be in

equilibrium if the mass of B is 20 kg?

Problems 5.20 & 5.21

5.22 Block A has a mass of 100 kg and the
coefficient of friction is 0.20.
Determine if block A will move. What
is the force of friction between A and
B?

5.23 The 70-kg bar A leans against a wall C.

The lower end of the bar is connected to
a frictionless roller. Can an 80-kg block
B serve as a stop that will prevent the bar
from sliding? The coefficients of friction
are AC = BD = 0.20.

BELT FRICTION

(a)

(b)

Find the minimum force P that will hold

the 225-kg block in equilibrium. The
coefficient of friction between belt and
drum is 0.20.
Determine the minimum force P that can
raise the block.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Solution:
(a) P is minimum when motion of the block downward is impending. In the
equation
TL = TS e ,
the value of TL to be used is 225 x 9.81 = 2207 N, TS = P, and = radians.
Therefore,
P=

2207
= 1177 N .
e 0.20

The force required to just hold the block in place is smaller than the weight of the block
(force of gravity on the block) for the reason that friction assists in preventing the block
from moving down.
(b) When motion of the block upward is impending, the larger tension is P so that

P = 2207e0.20 = 4137 N .
A force large than the weight of the block is required to raise the block because friction is
opposing its upward motion.

EXAMPLE 5.5
The flywheel A rotates clockwise under the
action of a 700 N-m couple. A band brake is
to be used to stop the rotation of A. The
coefficient of friction between belt and
flywheel is 0.40.
(a) What is the minimum force P applied

Solution:

(a)

When the braking force P is

minimum, clockwise rotation of the
flywheel is impending. The larger
tension will be at the left part of the
belt. Thus,

T1 = T2 e0.40 = 3.51T2 .
Summing moments about D, we have
FBD of flywheel and belt
MD = 0 = 3.51T2 x 0.3 - 0.3T2 - 700
Therefore, T2 = 929.6 N.

A summation of moments about point (1)

in the FBD of B yields the value of P.
M1 = 0 = 929.6(0.6) - 1.8P
P = 310 N.
FBD of B
(b) When a counterclockwise couple acts on the flywheel, the right side of the belt will
carry the larger tension. Therefore,

T1 =

T2
= 0.285T2 .
e 0.40

The value of T2 is obtained by summing moments about D in the free body diagram of
the flywheel and belt with the 700 N.m couple now acting counterclockwise.
MD = 0 = 0.285T2 (0.3) - 0.3T2 + 700
T2 = 3263 N
When moments are summed about point (1) in the FBD of rod B, the result is
M1 = 0 = 3263(0.6) - 1.8P.
Therefore,
P = 1088 N.
This force is rather large. When the flywheel is rotating counterclockwise, it is more
practical to fasten one end of the rod at point (2) so that the other end where the force P is
acting will be situated to the left of the flywheel. For this arrangement, the braking force
P is the same as in part (a) of this problem.
PROBLEMS
5.24 The minimum force F that will hold body A in equilibrium is to be determined.
AB = D = 0.20.
a) What is the direction of impending motion for A?
b) Which side of the cord has the larger tension?
c) What is the angle of contact in radians?

5.25 The minimum mass E necessary to hold the system in equilibrium is to be

determined.

a)
b)
c)
d)

What is the direction of impending motion for B?

What is the angle of contact between the cord and the drum D?
Which part of the cord has the larger tension?
What is the ratio of the cord tensions if D = 0.15?

5.26 An 800 N.m couple is applied to the flywheel shown. The coefficient of belt
friction is 0.20. The minimum force P required to prevent rotation of the flywheel
is to be determined.
a) Which tension is larger, TA or TB?
b) What is the angle of contact in radians?
c) What is the value of the ratio TA/TB?

5.27 A rope is wrapped three and one

half times around a fixed horizontal
cylinder B. What is the maximum
mass M that can be held in place by
a 270 N force applied at the end of
the rope?
The coefficient of
friction between the rope and the
bar is 0.25.

5.28 The mass of block A is 50 kg. The

coefficient of friction is 0.20
between A and B, and 0.15
between the string and drum D.
Find the mass of block C if motion
of C is impending.

5.29 Body A has a mass of 100 kg. What

is the maximum permissible value of
the mass M if the system s to remain
n equilibrium? AB = 0.20 and D
= 0.10.

5.30 Find the mass of block A if

motion of A is impending. AB
= 0.15 and D = 0.10.

5.31 Find the maximum mass M that

can be suspended as shown and
still maintain equilibrium of the
system. The masses of A and B
are 55 kg and 135 kg,
respectively. BC = 0.12 AB =
D = 0.10.

5.32 Calculate the minimum force P that

will prevent motion of the system.
Body A has a mass of 700 kg and
the mass of body B is 50 kg. AC =
0.3 D = 0.4

5.33 Body A has a mass of 15 kg and

body B has a mass of 25 kg. The
coefficient of friction for all
rubbing surfaces is 0.10. What is
the mass of body C if motion of C
upward is impending?

5.34 What s the minimum mass M that can

hold the flexible cable in equilibrium
in the position shown? The
coefficient of friction between the
cable and the drum D is 0.10.

5.35 The coefficient of friction between

the drum D and the cable supporting
the mass M is 0.10. What is the
minimum mass M that can hold the
system in equilibrium?

5.36

What is the maximum mass M that

can be suspended at the left end of
bar A if the bar is to remain
horizontal? The wall B is smooth
and the coefficient of friction
between the cord and the drum D is
0.15.

5.37

Find the magnitude of the couple C

that must be applied to the 300 mm
diameter flywheel B to cause
impending clockwise rotation of the
flywheel. The coefficient of belt
friction s 0.12.

5.38

The wheel B is connected to a motor

which supplies a torque of 120 N.m.
Assuming that the wheel turns clockwise,
find the braking force P. The coefficient
of belt friction is 0.20.