BASIC ENGINEERING MECHANICS (ME11003)

Tutorial 5: Friction

1. The magnitude of the force P in the direction shown in

the figure is slowly increased from zero. Does the
homogeneous block of mass m slip or tip first? State the
value of P when motion is initiated.
Ans: Slipping occurs first, P=0.448W

2. Two blocks connected by a horizontal massless link AB are supported on

two rough planes as shown. If the coefficient of static friction is µ=0.15,
determine the smallest weight W for which the system can be in
equilibrium.
Ans: W=13.395 kN

3. For a 20O jaw opening of the tongs for gripping a tube as

shown, determine the minimum required coefficient of
static friction at the contacting surfaces for static stability.

4. The 30 kg homogeneous cylinder of 400 mm diameter rests against the

vertical and inclined surfaces as shown. If the coefficients of static and kinetic
friction between all contacting surfaces are 0.3 and 0.25, respectively,
determine (a) the couple moment M required to initiate rotation, and (b)
couple moment M required to rotate the cylinder at a constant speed.
Ans: (a) M=32.92 Nm, (b) M=27.45 kN

5. A car is stopped with its front wheels resting against a curb when
its driver starts the engine and tries to drive over the curb. If the
radius of the wheels is 280 mm, µ=0.85 between the tyres and the
pavement, and 60% of the weight of the car is distributed over its
front wheels and 40% over its rear wheels, determine the largest h
curb height h that the car can negotiate, assuming (a) front-wheel
drive, and (b) rear wheel drive.
Ans: (a) h=66.7 mm, (b) h=36.4 mm

6. A clockwise couple M is applied to the circular cylinder as shown.

Determine the value of M required to initiate motion for the
conditions mB =3 kg, mC=6 kg, (µS)B =0.5, (µS)C =0.4, and r=0.2 m.
Friction between the cylinder C and block B is negligible.
7. A slender rod of length L is lodged between peg C and the vertical wall and
supports a load P at the end A. Knowing that Ɵ=35O and that the coefficient of the
static friction is 0.20 at both B and C, find the range of values of the ratio L/a for
which equilibrium is maintained .
𝑃𝑃
𝜃𝜃
Ans: 3.46 <= L/a <= 13.63.
L

8. The two uniform slender bars are freely pinned together at B. 𝑎𝑎

Determine the minimum angle theta at which slipping does not
occur at either point A or C. Take μS =0.5 at the contacts at A and
C, and consider only impending motion in the vertical plane
shown.
Ans: θ=63.4O (contact A slips)

9. A 5 deg massless wedge is to be forced under a 6200N machine

base at A. Knowing that µS=0.2 at all contacting surfaces,
(a) determine the force P required to move the wedge. (b) Check
whether the machine will slide at contact B. Neglect the thickness
of the wedge.
Ans: P=854.1 N (no slip at contact B)

10. Calculate the horizontal force P on the light 10 deg wedge

necessary to initiate movement of the 40 kg cylinder. The
coefficient of static friction µS=0.25 for both pairs of contacting
surfaces. Also determine the friction force FB at point B.

11. A frictional locking device allows bar A to move to the left but
prevents movement to the right. If the coefficient of friction
between the shoe B and the bar A is 0.40, specify the maximum
length b of the link which will permit the device to work as
described.

12. A force P=mg/6 is required to lower the cylinder at a constant slow speed
with the cord making 1 and ¼ turns around the fixed shaft. Calculate the
force P that will be required to raise the cylinder at a constant slow
speed.
Ans: μ=0.228
13. The cylinder of mass m is attached to the ring A, which is suspended by
the cable that passes over the pulley as shown in (a). A couple M applied
to the pulley turns it until slipping of the cable over the pulley occurs at
the position θ=20O , as shown in (b). Calculate the coefficient of friction μ
between the cable and the pulley.
Ans: μ=0.215

14. The uniform 3 m beam is suspended asymmetrically by the cable which

passes over the large pulley which is locked by a locking pin at A. If the
coefficient of friction between the cable and the pulley is 0.25, determine
the minimum value of x for which the cable will not slip on the pulley.
Ans: x=0.813 m

15. A moment M=150 Nm is applied to the flywheel. If the coefficient of

friction between the band and the wheel is 0.20, determine the
minimum force P required to prevent the wheel from rotating. Diameter
Ans: P=567.93 N 450 mm

125 650
mm mm

16. A 40 mm diameter screw has a double square

thread with pitch of 12 mm and lead of 24 mm.
The screw and its mating threads in the fixed
block are lubricated to have a friction coefficient
of 0.15. If a torque M=60 Nm is applied to the
right-hand portion of the shaft, determine (a) the
force P required to advance the shaft to the right,
and (b) the force P which would allow the shaft to
move to the left at a constant speed.
Ans: (a) P=75.3 kN, (b) P=8.55 kN

17. The vertical position of the 100 kg block is adjusted by

the screw activated wedge. Calculate the moment M
which must be applied to the handle of the screw to raise
the block. The single square threaded screw has a mean
diameter of 30 mm and advances 10 mm for each
complete turn. The coefficient of friction for the screw
threads is 0.25, and that for all mating surfaces of the
block and wedge is 0.4. Neglect friction at the ball joint A.

Ans: M=7.30 Nm
18. The coefficient of static and kinetic friction between
the drum and the brake bar are 0.4 and 0.3, respectively.
(a) If 𝐌𝐌 = 50 Nm and 𝐏𝐏 = 85 N determine the magnitude
of the reaction at pin O. The drum has mass of 25 kg and
the weight of the brake lever is negligible.
(b) If 𝐌𝐌 = 35 N determine the smallest force P applied to
the brake bar in order to stop the drum from rotating.

Ans: (a) 402.68 N, (b) 350 N

19. The roller has 50 kg mass and the coefficient of rolling resistance 𝑎𝑎 = 15 mm.

(a) Determine the force P required to pull the roller up the inclined plane at a
constant velocity.

(b) Determine the force P required to support the roller when it rolls down the
inclined plane at a constant velocity.

Ans: (a) 299 N, (b) 266 N.

20. The 1.2 Mg steel beam is moved over a level

surface by using a series of 30 mm rollers for which
the coefficient of rolling resistance is 0.4 mm at the
softer ground and 0.2 mm at the harder bottom
surface of the beam. Determine the horizontal force
P needed to push the beam forward at a constant speed. Ans: 235 N

21. A flat belt is used to transmit power from pulley A

to pulley B at a constant speed of 600 RPM. The radius
of each pulley is 60 mm, and a tightening force
𝐏𝐏 = 900 N is applied to the axle of pulley A. Knowing
that the coefficient of static friction between the belt
and the pulley is 0.35 and the maximum allowable
tension in the belt is 1 kN, determine the largest power
that can be transmitted by (a) the system as shown and
(b) the system when the belt is looped around the
pulleys in a figure of 8 (eight rotated by 90o angle).
Ans: 1.7 kW and 2.45 kW

22. Knowing that a couple M of magnitude 30 Nm is required to start the

vertical shaft rotating, determine the coefficient of static friction between
the annual surfaces of contact. Assume that the contact or bearing stress
(or contact pressure) is uniformly distributed over the annular contact
area.

Ans: 0.167
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