Friction Forces Are Everywhere in Our Daily Life

Chapter 6: Friction
• Friction forces are everywhere in our daily life
• Two kinds of friction forces

– Static friction force: fs
– Kinetic friction force: fk
• Direction of frictional force: always opposes the

direction of motion (or intended motion) relative
to the surface
Friction happens when there is a
relative motion (or tendency of
relative motion) between two
contacting surface.
Static Friction Force
• An applied force F attempts to slide a block
along a surface
– If the block does not move,
fs = F
fs increases when F increases until ….
– fs has a maximum value: fs, max
fs, max = µs N
µs : coefficient of static friction
N : normal force
Kinetic Friction Force
When the body begins to slide, the friction force
rapidly decrease to fk
fk = µk N
µk : coefficient of kinetic friction
N : normal force
− µs and µk depend on the nature of the

contacting surfaces, can be determined
experimentally
A block lies on a horizontal floor.
a) What is the magnitude of the friction force (f) on it
from the floor? f = 0N, but note fS,max = µSFN
b) If a horizontal force of 5 N is now applied to it,
but it does not move, what is f now? fs = 5N
c) If fs, max = 10 N, will the block move if the
horizontal applied force is 8 N? no, because F < fs
d) How about 12 N? yes, because F > fs
FN = mg
fS,max = µSFN F
mg
You press your physics book flat against a vertical
wall with your hand, what is the direction of the
friction force on the book exerted by the wall?
A) downward
B) upward
C) out from the wall
D) into the wall
A crate is located at the center of a flatbed truck. The
truck accelerates toward the east, and the crate
moves with it, not sliding on the bed of the truck.
What is the direction of the friction force exerted
by the bed of the truck on the crate.
A) to the west
B) to the east
C) there is no friction because the crate is not sliding
Food for thought
What causes an auto with anti-lock brakes to stop in a

shorter distance than a car with regular brakes? The anti-
lock brakes work by pulsing the brakes to keep the tires
from skidding.
Problem 6-20
A loaded penguin sled weighing 80 N rests on a plane inclined at 20o to
the horizontal . Between the sled and the plane, µs = 0.25, µk = 0.15.
(a) What is the minimum magnitude of the force F, parallel to
the plane, that will prevent the sled from slipping down the plane?
Set up free-body force diagram.

F
y N x
f
θ Notice that f is pointing with F
mg
because without F the penguin will
slide *down* the plane.
Problem 6-20
A loaded penguin sled weighing 80 N rests on a plane inclined at 20o to the
horizontal . Between the sled and the plane, µs = 0.25, µk = 0.15.
(a) What is the minimum magnitude of the force F, parallel to the plane, that
will prevent the sled from slipping down the plane?

F
y N x Apply Newton’s Second Law
f x: F − mg sinθ + fs
= F − mg sinθ + µsN = 0
θ
mg y: N − mg cosθ = 0
Problem 6-20
(a) What is the minimum magnitude of the force F, parallel to
the plane, that will prevent the sled from slipping down the plane?

F
f
F = mg sinθ − µsmg cosθ
θ = (80) sin(20) − 0.25(80)cos(20)
mg = 27.36N − 18.79N = 8.57N
Problem 6-20
(b) What is the minimum magnitude F that will start the sled
moving up the plane?
Now f points *down* the plane because F
will cause motion *up* the plane
F
f
F = mg sinθ + µsmg cosθ
θ = (80) sin(20) + 0.25(80)cos(20)
mg = 27.36N + 18.79N = 46.15N
Problem 6-20, continued
c) What value of F is required to move the sled up the plane
at constant velocity?
Now f points *down* the plane because F

causes motion *up* the plane
Constant velocity => zero acceleration => forces are balanced
F = mg sinθ + µkmg cosθ

= 27.36Ν + 11.28Ν = 38.64Ν will cause the sled to
move up the inclined plane at constant velocity
Aerodynamic Drag
Notice that a dropped object will first accelerate and then keep
descending at a constant velocity.
That means the acceleration decreased to zero, which means there

had to be another force to counteract mg. This force is called “drag”.
|D| = 1/2CρAv2
D - mg = ma = 0
C = drag coefficient
ρ = air density =>
1
2 CρAv 2t − mg = 0
A = cross sectional area
v = speed
2mg
vt =
CρA
Now let’s have some fun
and on Monday ...
Hurricane Frances, September 2004

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Chapter 6: Friction

• Friction forces are everywhere in our daily life

• Two kinds of friction forces

– Kinetic friction force: fk

• Direction of frictional force: always opposes the

− µs and µk depend on the nature of the

What causes an auto with anti-lock brakes to stop in a

Set up free-body force diagram.

Set up free-body force diagram.

Set up free-body force diagram.

Now f points down the plane because F

Constant velocity => zero acceleration => forces are balanced

F = mg sinθ + µkmg cosθ

That means the acceleration decreased to zero, which means there

Hurricane Frances, September 2004

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