Forces and Friction Cheat Sheet Edexcel Stats/Mech Year 2

In this chapter, we will learn to resolve more difficult systems of forces including situations where an object is on an inclined plane. We will also Example 2: Two forces 𝑃 and 𝑄 act on a particle as shown. 𝑃 has a magnitude of 10𝑁 and 𝑄 has a magnitude of 8𝑁.
learn how to model the frictional force experienced by a body that is at rest or moving on a rough surface. Work out the magnitude of the resultant force.
This is the given diagram
Resolving forces
You need to be able to find the component of a force acting in a particular direction using basic trigonometry. Let’s say that we wish to find the
component of 𝐹 in the direction of motion of the box (shown dotted) in the following example:

We start by forming a diagram, where we add the vectors P and Q

to make up a triangle. The missing side is the resultant force.
Remember that when we add two vectors together, one arrow
must start where the other ends.
Here, we have a force F applied at an angle 𝜃 to the direction of motion of the object. If we want to resolve in the direction of motion, we need
to find the component of F acting in this direction. Taking a closer look at the components of F:
From the diagram we formed, we can see that since we know the 𝑅 2 = 82 + 102 − 2(8)(10)cos (105)
magnitude of the forces 𝑃 and 𝑄 and the angle between them, we 𝑅 2 = 205.411 …
can use the cosine rule to find the magnitude of 𝑅. ∴ 𝑅 = 14.3𝑁 (3 𝑠. 𝑓. )

Friction
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 Friction is simply a force that opposes the motion of an object moving over a rough surface. You need to be able to model the frictional force
The component that we want to find is C. From basic trigonometry, we know that 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = , and so
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 experienced by an object at rest or moving on a rough surface.
𝐶
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐹. Therefore, we have that 𝐶 = 𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 is the component of 𝐹 in the direction of motion of the box. To generalise what we have just
found: ▪ For a particle at rest on a rough surface, the frictional force 𝐹 is such that 𝐹 ≤ 𝜇𝑅 , where 𝜇 is the coefficient of friction and 𝑅 is
the reaction force normal to the surface.
▪ The component of a Force 𝐹 in a particular direction is 𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃, where 𝜃 is the angle between 𝐹 and the specified direction.
▪ The maximum value of the frictional force is reached when the particle is on the point of moving. This is when the particle is said
▪ The component of the force 𝐹 perpendicular to the specified direction is 𝐹𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃, where 𝜃 is the angle between 𝐹 and the specified to be in limiting equilibrium, where 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑅 applies.
direction.
▪ If a particle is moving along a rough surface, then the frictional force acting is maximum (limiting). Therefore, 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑅 applies.
We will now go through an example where we will need to use the above ideas:
▪ Remember that the frictional force will always oppose the direction the particle would move in if the frictional force was not
Example 1: Three forces act upon a particle as shown in the below diagram. Given that the particle is in equilibrium, calculate the magnitude of there.
𝐹 and the value of 𝜃.
The example below shows how we apply the concept of limiting friction to a question involving an inclined plane.

Inclined planes
When solving problems involving inclined planes, you should resolve parallel and perpendicular to the plane, instead of vertically and
horizontally. You need to be confident in resolving forces for a body on an inclined plane, which may be rough.

We start by resolving horizontally, taking the right to be positive: 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 15𝑐𝑜𝑠30 − 20𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = 0 Example 3: A box of mass 2𝑘𝑔 is sliding down a rough slope that is inclined at 30° to the horizontal. Given that the acceleration of the
∴ 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 35𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = (17.5)√3 [1] particle is 1 𝑚𝑠 −2, find the coefficient of friction, 𝜇, between the particle and the slope.
Resolving vertically now, taking the upwards direction to be positive: 𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 15𝑠𝑖𝑛30 − 20𝑠𝑖𝑛30 = 0
∴ 𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 2.5 [2]
Squaring [1] and [2], then adding them together: [𝟏]𝟐 : 𝐵2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 = 918.75 We draw a force diagram detailing the given scenario. The dotted line is
𝟐 2 2
[𝟐] : 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 6.25 perpendicular to the plane, and the angle between the weight and the dotted line
[𝟏]𝟐 + [𝟐]𝟐 : 𝐵2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝐵2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 = 918.75 + 6.25 is found to be 30°. It is helpful to annotate this on your diagram when you are
Factoring out 𝐵2 from the 𝐿𝐻𝑆 and using the identity 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 = 1: 𝐵2 (𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃) = 925 given an inclined plane as you will often have to resolve perpendicular to the plane.
𝐵2 (1) = 925
∴ 𝐵 = √925 = 5√37 𝑁
5√37 sinθ = 2.5 a) Resolving perpendicular to the plane:, we can sum up the forces and equate to 0 𝑅 − 2𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = 0
θ = 4.72 degrees since there is no movement along the line perpendicular to the plane. ∴ 𝑅 = 2𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = 17.0𝑁
b) Resolving parallel to the plane, using 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 taking the direction of motion to 2𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛30 − 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (2)(1)
Triangle law be positive:
The triangle law allows you to use vector addition to find the resultant of two forces without needing to resolve them into components. Using Since the box is moving on a rough surface, the friction is limiting and so 2𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛30 − 𝜇𝑅 = (2)(1)
the triangle law can simplify the working for some questions. 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑅 applies. Substituting this into our equation: 𝜇𝑅 = 7.8
7.8
Since we found that 𝑅 = 17.0: ∴ 𝜇 = 17.0 = 0.460 (3 s.f.)
▪ For any two forces 𝑃 and 𝑄, the resultant force will be the missing side of the triangle formed by the forces 𝑃 and 𝑄. You can use
geometry to figure out any missing angles/sides.

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