Tshwane University Of Technology [2022]

EXPERIMENT 3: STATIC AND KINETIC FRICTION

MATJOKANE JMB 220068366

MBOKAZI SL 220759555
LEKALAKALA PN 219437153
SHIDZINGA VD 219991274

13 MAY 2022

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DECLARATION

We hereby declare that the Mechanics of Machines II Practical we was done as partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the subject of Mechanics of Machines II in Mechanical
Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology. We further declare that the report is my own
work and that the content of this report depict the experiment that we have undergone.

Matjokane JMB
Shidzinga VD
Lekalakala PN
Mbokazi SL

INITIAL(S) SURNAME (Printed)

JMB Matjokane_______________________________

VD Shidzinga

PN Lekalakala

SL Mbokazi

SIGNATURE

13 MAY 2022_______________________________

DATE

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TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Declaration…………………………………………………………………. Page 2

2. Summary…………………………………………………………………….Page 4

3. Objectives……………………………………………………………………Page 4

4. Background…………………………………………………………………Page 4

5. Apparatus……………………………………………………………………Page 4

6. Procedure……………………………………………………………………Page 5

7. Results……………………………………………………………………….Page 5-6

8. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………Page 6

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Summary

In this experiment we have learned that two surfaces in contact have a resistance to slippage
between them known as friction. The resistance can vary based on material and normal force
between force the surfaces. The resistance can be treated as a force in the opposite direction of
the impending motion.

Objectives

The purpose of this activity is to investigate static friction and kinetic (sliding) friction. Compare
the static and kinetic friction of two different surfaces. Determine what happens to the coefficient
of friction when the normal force is changed.

Background

The force of friction is a common but complex force. The exact method by which friction works is
a topic of great scientific interest and we can make some general statements about it. Friction
arises from the electromagnetic forces between atoms and molecules at the surfaces of objects.

This activity investigates two types of frictional force: static friction and kinetic (sliding) friction.
Both are dependent on the types of surfaces, but not on the speed of motion or the surface
area.

The direction of the static friction is along the contact surface and opposite in direction to any
applied force.

The magnitude of the static friction force is given by Fs = µsFn where µs is the coefficient of static
friction and Fn is the magnitude of the normal force. The coefficient of static friction is the ratio of
the maximum static friction force and the normal force.

The normal force is the force perpendicular to a surface. When an object is placed on a surface,
for example, the normal force is the force that supports the object. If the surface is horizontal,
the normal force is the weight of the object, mg, where m is the mass of the object and g is the
acceleration due to gravity 9.8 m/s2.

As a force is applied to move an object along a surface, the static friction force builds up to a
maximum just before the object begins to move.

Kinetic (sliding) friction opposes the motion of an object as it moves over a surface at constant
velocity. The formula for the kinetic friction force is, Fk = µkFn where µk is the coefficient of kinetic
friction and Fn is the magnitude of the normal force.

Typically the values of kinetic friction are less than values for static friction. In the same way, the
coefficient of kinetic friction is less than the coefficient of static friction (µ k < µs).

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Equipment needed:

PASPORT Xplorer GLX

PASPORT Force Sensor
1.2 m PASCO Track
Discover Friction Accessory
Hooked Mass Set
Balance
Braided Physics String

Procedure
GLX Setup

1. We Turned on the GLX ( ).

2. We Open the GLX setup file labeled friction. (Check the Appendix at the end of this
activity.)

• The Graph screen opens with a graph of force versus time.

• The file is set up so that force is measured 1000 times per second (1000 Hz). The file
also is set to smooth data so that 5 data points are averaged. Finally, the sensor is set up
so it sends a positive signal when a pull is applied to it.

3. We Connected the Force Sensor to a sensor port on the top of the GLX.

Equipment Setup

1. We Placed the track on a flat, horizontal surface.

2. We Put 200 g (0.2 kg) into the felt friction tray. We Measured and recorded the mass of
the felt friction tray and the added mass.

3. We Placed the friction tray on the track.

4. Tied a piece of string between the friction tray and the hook on the Force Sensor. The
string should be about 5 cm (2 in). Place the sensor on the track.

Record Data: Felt Friction Accessory

1. We Held the Force Sensor so no slack is in the string. We Press the ZERO button on
the top of the Force Sensor to zero the sensor.

2.We Pressed Start ( ) to start recording data. We Waited about one second and then
slowly and gently pull the Force Sensor/friction tray down the track.

3. After five seconds, press to stop recording.

4. For a second run, add another 200 g to the friction tray (for a total of 400 g added to the
friction tray) and repeat the data recording procedure.

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 5. For a third run, We added another 200 g (for a total of 600 g added to the friction tray)
and repeated the procedure.

Record Data: Cork Friction Accessory

6. We Replaced the felt friction tray with the cork friction tray. We Performed the same
procedure above starting with 200 g added to the cork friction tray. (Measure and record
the total mass.)

7. For a second run, added 200 g (for a total of 400 g added).

8. For the third run, added another 200 g (for a total of 600 g added).

Results

Graphical method

Component Method

PREDICTION QUESTION ANSWERS

1. When comparing a felt surface to a cork Cork Surface

surface, which material will have the higher value
for its coefficient of kinetic friction?
2. How does the normal force acting on an object The normal force is the force pushing the two
affect the force of friction? surfaces together and the stronger the normal
force, the stronger the force due to friction.

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Item Mass Normal Force Fs (N) Static Fk (N) Kinetic
(kg) (N) Friction Friction

Felt (0.2 kg 0.1kg 2.548N 2.1N 2.1N

added)

Felt (0.4 kg 0.15kg 4.312N 3.4N 3.4N

added)

Felt (0.6 kg 0.2kg 6.076N 3.9N 3.4N

added)

Item Mass Normal Force Fs (N) Static Fk (N) Kinetic

(kg) (N) Friction Friction

Cork (0.2 kg 0.1kg 2.6166N 0.5N 0.3N

added)

Cork (0.4 kg 0.15kg 4.3904N 3.0N 1.6N

added

Cork (0.6 kg 0.2kg 6.1936N 3.2N 2.3N

added)

Calculations

Item Μs μk
Felt
Cork

QUESTIONS ANSWERS

1. What is the physical quantity represented by Coefficient of friction

the ratio of friction force to normal force?
2. What pattern do you notice about the values Increase pattern.
for the coefficients of friction?
3. What happens to the static friction force as The static friction increases. This is because
the mass is increased? Why does this happen? the normal force increases as the mass
increases.
4. What happens to the kinetic friction force as The kinetic friction increases. This is also
the mass is increased? Why does this happen? because the normal force increases as the
mass increases.

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 5. What are the units for the coefficient of No Units, because the coefficient of friction is
friction? Explain the ratio of a force to a force.
6. Think about your experience with the friction Kinetic friction. This is the kind of friction
trays. When a car skids to a stop (with wheels between surfaces that are sliding over one
“locked”), which friction force is at work? How another (such as car tires sliding over the road
do you know? surface).
7. Do your results support your predictions? Yes

Conclusion
In this experiment we proved that friction is important in our everyday motion because without it,
anybody in motion will not stop because a friction is a force that opposes motion. when we
increase the mass the static friction also increase because the normal force increase as the
mass increase, and the kinetic friction increases because the normal force increases as the
mass. Cork surface has the higher value of coefficient friction.