 FRICTION

To stop an object in motion a force must act on it in the opposite direction of motion,
the force that opposes the motion of the object is called as frictional force. At first the block is at
rest, then the pushing force keeps the block moving. As the block slides over the surface frictional
force acts on it in the opposite direction. Units of friction is Newton’s, because friction is also a force
and units of force is Newton’s.
Friction generally depends on weight of the object and nature of the surface between the
moving object and supporting surface.

 TYPES OF FRICTION
Different types of motion of the object give rise to different types of friction. Generally
there are 4 types of friction they are Static friction, Sliding friction, Rolling friction, Fluid friction. Lets
discuss about each type of friction in detail.

a)STATIC FRICTION
Static friction exists between a stationary object and the surface on which it is resting. It
prevents an object from moving against the surface.
Examples: static friction prevents an object like book falling from the desk even if the desk is slightly
tilted; it helps us to pick up an object without slipping through our fingers.
When we want to move an object first we must overcome the static friction acting between the
object and the surface on which the object is resting.

b) SLIDING FRICTION (DYNAMIC FRICTION)

Sliding friction occurs between objects as the slide against each other. It acts in the
direction opposite to the direction of motion. It prevents the object from moving too fast. It is also
called as kinetic friction.
Examples: A book sliding from an inclined desk, A kid sliding on a slide.
When sliding friction is acting there must be another force existing to keep the body in moving, in
case of the book sliding from the desk the other force acting is gravitational force.
c) ROLLING FRICTION (DYNAMIC FRICTION)
Rolling friction hinders the motion of an object rolling on a surface that means it slows
down the motion of an object rolling on a surface.
Examples: It slows down a ball rolling on a surface and it slows down the motion of tire rolling on the
surface.
Like sliding friction here also another force is required to keep the object in motion, in case of
pedalling bicycle the bicyclist provides the force which is required for the bicycle to be in motion.

d)FLUID FRICTION
Fluid friction is experienced by the objects moving through a fluid. Fluid friction acts
between the object and the fluid through which it is moving. It is also called as drag. This force
depends upon the object's shape, material, speed with which it is moving and the viscosity of the
fluid. Viscosity is the measure of resistance of the fluid to flow and it differs from one fluid to other.
Examples: It slowdowns the motion of airplane flying in the air, here the airplanes engine helps the
plane to overcome the fluid friction and move forward.

 Examples in various fields

A coefficient of friction is a value that shows the relationship between

the force of friction between two objects and the normal reaction between the objects that are
involved. It is a value that is sometimes used in physics to find an object's normal force or
frictional force when other methods are unavailable.

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 Chart for of Friction Coefficients for some Common Materials and
Materials Combinations

Static Frictional Coefficient

- μs -
Materials and Material Combinations
Lubricated and Greasy
Clean and Dry Surfaces
Surfaces

Aluminum Aluminum 1.05 - 1.35 0.3

Aluminum-bronze Steel 0.45

Aluminum Mild Steel 0.61

Brake material2) Cast iron 0.4

Brake material2) Cast iron (wet) 0.2

Brass Steel 0.35 0.19

Brass Cast Iron 0.31)

Brick Wood 0.6

Bronze Steel 0.16

Bronze Cast Iron 0.221)

Bronze - sintered Steel 0.13

Cadmium Cadmium 0.5 0.05

Cadmium Chromium 0.41 0.34

Cadmium Mild Steel 0.461)

Cast Iron Cast Iron 1.1, 0.151) 0.071)

Cast Iron Oak 0.491) 0.0751

 Static Frictional Coefficient
- μs -
Materials and Material Combinations
Lubricated and Greasy
Clean and Dry Surfaces
Surfaces

Cast iron Mild Steel 0.4, 0.231) 0.21, 0.1331)

Car tire Asphalt 0.72

Car tire Grass 0.35

Carbon (hard) Carbon 0.16 0.12 - 0.14

Carbon Steel 0.14 0.11 - 0.14

Chromium Chromium 0.41 0.34

Copper-Lead alloy Steel 0.22

Copper Copper 1 0.08

Copper Cast Iron 1.05, 0.291)

Copper Mild Steel 0.53, 0.361) 0.181)

Diamond Diamond 0.1 0.05 - 0.1

Diamond Metal 0.1 - 0.15 0.1

0.1 - 0.6,
Glass Glass 0.9 - 1.0, 0.41)
0.09-0.121)

Glass Metal 0.5 - 0.7 0.2 - 0.3

Glass Nickel 0.78 0.56

Graphite Steel 0.1 0.1

Graphite Graphite (in vacuum) 0.5 - 0.8

 Static Frictional Coefficient
- μs -
Materials and Material Combinations
Lubricated and Greasy
Clean and Dry Surfaces
Surfaces

Graphite Graphite 0.1 0.1

Hemp rope Timber 0.5

Horseshoe Rubber 0.68

Horseshoe Concrete 0.58

Ice Ice 0.02 - 0.09

Ice Wood 0.05

Ice Steel 0.03

Iron Iron 1.0 0.15 - 0.20

Lead Cast Iron 0.431)

Leather Oak 0.61, 0521

Leather Metal 0.4 0.2

Leather Wood 0.3 - 0.4

Leather Clean Metal 0.6

Leather fiber Cast iron 0.31

Leather fiber Aluminum 0.30

Magnesium Magnesium 0.6 0.08

Masonry Brick 0.6 - 0.7

Nickel Nickel 0.7 - 1.1, 0.28, 0.121)

 Static Frictional Coefficient
- μs -
Materials and Material Combinations
Lubricated and Greasy
Clean and Dry Surfaces
Surfaces

0.531)

Nickel Mild Steel 0.641) 0.1781)

Nylon Nylon 0.15 - 0.25

Oak Oak (parallel grain) 0.62, 0.481)

Oak Oak (cross grain) 0.54, 0.321 0.0721

Paper Cast Iron 0.20

Phosphor-bronze Steel 0.35

Platinum Platinum 1.2 0.25

Plexiglas Plexiglas 0.8 0.8

Plexiglas Steel 0.4-0.5 0.4 - 0.5

Polystyrene Polystyrene 0.5 0.5

Polystyrene Steel 0.3-0.35 0.3 - 0.35

Polythene Steel 0.2 0.2

Rubber Rubber 1.16

Rubber Cardboard 0.5 - 0.8

Rubber Dry Asphalt 0.9 (0.5 - 0.8)1)

Rubber Wet Asphalt 0.25 - 0.751)

Rubber Dry Concrete 0.6 - 0.851)

 Static Frictional Coefficient
- μs -
Materials and Material Combinations
Lubricated and Greasy
Clean and Dry Surfaces
Surfaces

Rubber Wet Concrete 0.45 - 0.751)

Silver Silver 1.4 0.55

Sapphire Sapphire 0.2 0.2

Silver Silver 1.4 0.55

Skin Metals 0.8 - 1.0

Steel Steel 0.5 - 0.8 0.16

Straw Fiber Cast Iron 0.26

Straw Fiber Aluminum 0.27

Tarred fiber Cast Iron 0.15

Tarred fiber Aluminum 0.18

Polytetrafluoroethylene Polytetrafluoroethylene
0.04 0.04, 0.041)
(PTFE) (PTFE)

Polytetrafluoroethylene
Steel 0.05 - 0.2
(PTFE)

Tungsten Carbide Steel 0.4-0.6 0.1 - 0.2

Tungsten Carbide Tungsten Carbide 0.2 - 0.25 0.12

Tungsten Carbide Copper 0.35

Tungsten Carbide Iron 0.8

Tin Cast Iron 0.321)

 Static Frictional Coefficient
- μs -
Materials and Material Combinations
Lubricated and Greasy
Clean and Dry Surfaces
Surfaces

Tire, dry Road, dry 1

Tire, wet Road, wet 0.2

Wood Clean Wood 0.25 - 0.5

Wood Wet Wood 0.2

Wood Clean Metal 0.2 - 0.6

Wood Wet Metals 0.2

Wood Stone 0.2 - 0.4

Wood Concrete 0.62

Wood Brick 0.6

Wood - waxed Wet snow 0.14, 0.11)

Wood - waxed Dry snow 0.041)

Zinc Cast Iron 0.85, 0.211)

Zinc Zinc 0.6 0.04