FRICTION

PHYS 2211L -006

Tri Phan, Natalia Considine, JoJo Min, Mintesnot Kebede

October 27, 2024

OBJECTIVE:
Determine and compare the static and kinetic friction coefficients of a given block starting at rest
and then moving at a constant velocity on a flat surface and at an angled surface.

INTRODUCTION:
Friction is a dissipative contact force that arises when two surfaces interact and is the force that
opposes the relative motion of the surface in contact (Hinrichs and Urone, Sec 5.1) . The force of
friction is affected by factors such as the roughness of surfaces and the degree to which they are
pressed together. There are two main types of friction: static and kinetic. Static friction (the
friction when the object is at rest) acts in response to an applied force. For example, when a force
is applied to an object, the static friction in response acts in the opposite direction. Both the static
force and the applied force are equal until the static friction reaches its maximum. Once this
happens and the applied force continues to increase, the object will begin to slip, resulting in
kinetic friction (the friction when the object is moving). The kinetic friction force remains
constant once the object begins moving. Kinetic friction will always be lower than the max static
friction due to the slip.

Static Friction is defined as fs,max = μsFN

Where fs is the static friction, μs is the static friction coefficient, and FN is the normal Force.
Similarly, Kinetic Friction is defined as fk = μkFN
Where fk is the kinetic friction, μk is the kinetic friction coefficient, and FN is the normal Force.
Both equations tell us that friction is directionally proportional to the friction coefficient and the
normal force (Nave). The friction coefficient is a unitless quantity with a magnitude between 0
and 1. The greater the quantity, the harder it is to get an object to slip and thus the greater the
friction. Lastly the normal force is the force that is perpendicular to the surface. If the object is
on a flat surface, then the normal force is FN = mg and if the object is on an incline the normal
force is FN = mgCos(θ).

FLAT INCLINED
MATERIALS:

Materials Quantity
Force Sensor 1
850 Universal Interface box 1
Computer with PASCO Capstone Software 1
1 kg mass 1
2 kg mass 2
5 kg mass 1
Wooden block 2
Wooden board 1
Inclinometer 1
Triple Beam Balance 1

PROCEDURE:
Given the materials, the triple beam balance was used to obtain the mass of the smaller block;
with the mass determined, the weight of the block was identified by multiplying it by the
gravitational pull of the Earth. The weight of the block is then recorded.
After connecting the force sensor to the 850 Universal Interface box and setting up the PASCO
Capstone Software, a simple apparatus using the wooden board, and the small block was set up
to find the force of friction on a leveled surface. The force sensor was then placed on the
opposite side of where the block would be traveling. It is crucial to tare the force sensor before
every trial.
Before pushing the block with the force sensor, the record button in the PASCO Capstone
Software was initiated. Now it was possible to receive data from the push of the block. For
accurate data, the block was pushed at a constant speed after it began to slip.
The block was pushed separately six times with an increasing increment of 1 kg on the block.
For example, in the first trial, the block’s total weight included a 1kg mass plus the mass of the
block times the gravitational pull of the Earth. In the second trial, the block had 2kg placed on
top, and the third trial had 3 kg placed on top, and so on. The data from the computer software
was then recorded in the first data table.
A similar procedure was followed for the next data table. The difference this time was a slight
change in the apparatus. The second (longer) block was positioned under one end of the wooden
board to create an incline, and then the inclinometer was used to measure the angle. Once the
apparatus was set up, the process of recording the data with an increasing increment of 1 kg was
repeated. However, this time, the increment stops at 4 kg.

DATA:
Data table 1: Block on Horizontal Board

Trials Total Mass (kg) Normal Force (N) fs max (N) fk (N)

Trial 1 1.2955 12.6959 4.07 2.9

Trial 2 2.2955 22.4959 5.49 4.2

Trial 3 3.2955 32.2959 9.81 6.79

Trial 4 4.2955 42.0959 13.23 9.19

Trial 5 5.2955 52.8959 13.92 10.78

Trial 6 6.2955 61.6959 20.23 14.32

- µk = 0.2172
- µs = 0.3007
Data table 2: Block on an Inclined Board
Angle between wooden board and horizontal plane:  = 9.00 degree

Trails Total Mass (kg) Weight (N) FN (N) Fps (N) Fpk (N) fs,max (N) fk (N) µs µk

1 1.2955 12.6959 12.53959 4.68 4.27 2.693919 2.28392 0.21483 0.18214

2 2.2955 22.4959 22.21894 9.91 8.44 6.390858 4.92086 0.28763 0.22147
3 3.2955 32.2959 31.89828 14.19 11.3 9.137796 6.2478 0.28647 0.19587
4 4.2955 42.0959 41.57763 17.47 14.8 10.88474 8.21474 0.26179 0.19758
Average µ values
0.26268 0.19926

DATA ANALYSIS FOR TABLE 1:

Calculation:
**Sample calculation from data table 1 – Trail 1 **
(The same process was used for the rest of the trials)

Formula used for normal force on horizontal plane:

FN = mg
Where m: mass ( kg)
g : acceleration of gravity ( m /s2 )
FN : normal force
Sample Calculation for Data table 1
Trial 1:
Mass = 1.2955 kg
FN = mg
FN = (1.2955 kg)* ( 9.8 m /s2)
FN = 12.6959 N
Formula of kinetic friction force:
fk = µk * FN
From the best-fit line, we have:
fk = 0.2172 * FN
=> µk = 0.2172
Formula of maximum static friction:
fs = msFN
Where µs : static kinetic constant
From the best-fit line, we have:
fs = 0.3007 * FN
=> µs = 0.3007

GRAPHS:

Kinetic friction vs Normal Force

fk vs. FN
16
14
12 f(x) = 0.217232008606189 x
R² = 0.996040614602115
10
fk (N)

8
6
4
2
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
FN ( N)
Static Friction vs Normal Force

fs vs. FN
25

20
f(x) = 0.300727177920852 x
15 R² = 0.990462557378713
fs (N)

10

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
FN (N)

DATA ANALYSIS FOR TABLE 2:

Calculation:

**Sample calculation from data table 2 – Trail 1 **

(The same process was used for the rest of the trials)

Formula for weight: w = mg

Where: m: mass ( kg)
g: acceleration of gravity ( m /s2 )
w: Weight (N)
Sample calculation:
 Mass = 1.2955 kg
w = mg
w = (1.2955 kg)* ( 9.8 m /s2)
w = 12.6959 N
Formula for normal force on an inclined plane:
FN = mgcos(q) or
FN = wcos(q)
FN = wcos(q)
Sample calculation:
FN = 12.6959 N cos(9.00)
FN = 12.53959 N
Formula for maximum static friction on an inclined surface:
fs,max = Fps– mgsin(q) or
fs,max = Fps– wsin(q)
Sample calculation:
fs,max = 4.68 N – 12.6959 N (sin(9.00))
fs,max = 2.693919 N

Formula for kinetic friction on an inclined surface:

fk = Fpk– mgsin(q) or
fk = Fpk– wsin(q)

Sample calculation:
fk = Fpk– wsin(q)
fk = 4.27 - 12.6959 N (sin(9.00))
fk = 2.283919 N

Formula for maximum static friction constant on an inclined plane:

 fs,max = µsFN
µs = fs,max / FN
Where µs: static friction constant
Sample calculation:
µs = fs,max / FN
µs = 2.693919 N /12.53959 N = 0.214833

Formula for kinetic friction constant on an inclined plane:

fk = µkFN
µ k = fk/FN

Where µk: kinetic friction constant

Sample calculation:
µk = fk / FN
µk = 2.283919 N /12.53959 N = 0.214833

ERRORS CALCULATION

horizontal diagonal % diff s % diff k

Procedure 1 2 12.6% 8.26%
Average coeff s 0.3007 0.262681
Average Coeff k 0.2172 0.199263

Formula for percent difference:

% difference=
(|Value 1−Value 2|
)
( Value 1+Value2 ) /2
∗100

Sample example: (The same process was used to calculate % diff k)

% diff s = (| |
0.3007−0.262681|
0.3007−0.262681|/2 )
∗100

% diff s = 12.6%
Deviation and Average Deviation:
 Mean μs Mean μk
0.26268 0.19926

AVG AVG
Data Table 2 μs μk Deviation μs Deviation μk Deviation μs Deviation μk
Trial 1 0.2148 0.1821 0.0478 0.0171 0.0244 0.0111
Trial 2 0.2876 0.2215 0.0250 0.0222
Trial 3 0.2865 0.1959 0.0238 0.0034
Trial 4 0.2618 0.1976 0.0009 0.0017

Formula for deviation μs :

Deviation μs = | μs - x |

Where x is the mean of μs

Sample example for trial 1: (same process for the rest of the trails)
Deviation μs = | 0.2148 - 0.26268 |

Deviation μs = 0.0478

Formula for deviation μk :

Deviation μk = | μk - x |

Where x is the mean of μk

Sample example for trial 1: (same process for the rest of the trails)
Deviation μk= | 0.2148 - 0.1821|

Deviation μs = 0.0171

Formula for Average Deviation:

Average Deviation=
∑ deviation
n
where n is the number of deviations
Sample Example: (same process used to find AVG Deviation μk)

Average deviation = (0.0478 + 0.0250 +0.0238 +0.0009)/4

Average deviation μs = 0.0244
Standard Deviation:
(Deviation (Deviation Standard Deviation Standard Deviation
μs)^2 μk)^2 μs μk
0.0022894239 0.0002932957 0.029489327 0.014150152
0.0006225085 0.0004932319
0.0005657607 0.0000115347
0.0000007884 0.0000028448

Formula for population standard deviation:

S=
√ ∑ ( xᵢ−x)2
n
Where:
xᵢ: each of the values of the data
x : mean of xᵢ
n: the number of data point
*Note: The deviation in the table above provides the value (xi - x )2 so, all that’s left to do is to
take the square root of the average.
Sample example for population standard Deviation μs :

Standard Deviation μs

√(0.0022894239+ 0.0006225085+0.0005657607+ 0.0000007884)/4

=

Standard Deviation μs = 0.029489327

*The same formula is used to calculate the standard deviation for μk.

DISCUSSION:
The objective of this lab was to determine the coefficients of static friction and kinetic friction of
the wooden block on a level plane and on an inclined plane and compare the values. As the
theories of friction suggest, the force of friction is proportional to the normal force and the
coefficient-constant of friction: the data in the experiment proves this. Furthermore, while
experimenting, the force of kinetic friction almost seems to be independent of the sliding speed.
Whether the speed was sliding at a slow constant velocity or high constant velocity, the force of
kinetic friction almost remains the same. This makes sense because regardless of the magnitude
of the velocity, if the block is pushed at a constant rate, then acceleration will be zero. According
to the formula Fnet = ma, if (a = 0), the forces acting on the object must balance out (Fp = Fk). The
observed data support the existing theories of friction.

CONCLUSION:
The key results from tables one and two shared a 12.6% s difference and an 8.26% k difference
with a standard deviation of 0.0295 for s and 0.01415 for k. The potential sources of errors
were most likely from the inconsistent pushing of the block and not labeling which side of the
block to lay on the wooden board. A lower percentage of error is possible with some
improvements. For a better consistent push, strings could be tied to two sides of the force sensor
and two masses of similar weight tied to the ends of the strings. Let the weights hang on the edge
of the table and once the block is ready to be pushed, let go of the weights. The weights should
have a mass to fall slowly, and the weights should be adjusted for each added weight(s) to the
block. Doing this should result in consistent pushing. The next solution to lower the percentage
error is to label the face of the block that will be against the wooden board. Since the surface is a
factor that affects friction, it is important to have the same surfaces facing each other for all
trails. Another improvement is to have the number of trials be the same for both data sets: Table
One and Table Two. Having the same number of trials and a greater number of trials will yield a
more accurate result. Ultimately this lab shows the experimenters that the coefficient for static
friction and kinetic friction should be the same in theory for flat surfaces and inclined surfaces.

REFERENCES:
Hinrichs, Roger, and Paul P. Urone. College Physics 2e. E-book, OpenStax, 2022,

https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/5-1-friction.

Nave, Carl R. “Friction.” HyperPhysics, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html.

Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.