Coefficient of Static and Kinetic Friction Lab

Questions: How do the coefficients of kinetic and static friction for a shoe, IPhone, and metal keys compare to each other when placed on the same ramp. Hypothesis: The coefficients of static and kinetic friction for the shoe will be the highest followed by the IPhone and then the metal keys. Materials: -metre sick -wooden ramp -a shoe -an IPhone -a key Experimental Design: In order to complete the labs you will be in charge of testing the effects of different surfaces such as the face of an IPhone on the coefficients of friction by using an inclined plane. In order to figure out the coefficient of static friction you will raise the incline plane until the object slides. In order to test the coefficient of kinetic friction you will lower the inclined plane until the object stops. Safety: Make sure that the objects being tested do not fall on your hands or feet. Do not allow any of the objects to fall of the ramp onto the floor. Procedure: 1.) Create a table that has the three objects as row categories and height kinetic, angle kinetic, height static, angle static in the column category. Create a section for the length of the ramp. 2.) Measure the length of the ramp. Record it in the length of ramp section in your table 3.) Place the shoe at the end of the wooden ramp. 4.) At the other end of the ramp use one hand to hold down that end while you slowly raise the opposite end of the ramp. 5.) Continue raising the ramp until the object moves. Once the object moves record measure the height of the ramp from the end that is off the ground to the ground. Make sure the ruler is not slanted and that it is perpendicular to the surface of the ground when you make the measurement. 6.) Record this height in the height static section of your table for that object. 7.) Repeat steps 2-5 for the IPhone and key 8.) Place the shoe at the end of the wooden ramp

9.) Raise the ramp to a height at which the shoe moves. Stabilize the shoe at one end while maintaining that height. Once stable simultaneously let go of the shoe and lower the ramp until you reach a point where the shoe stops. 10.) Record this height in the height kinetic section of your table for that object 11.) Repeat steps 7-9 for the IPhone and key. Data Example: Length of Board: 64.8 cm Shoe IPhone Key Height of Kinetic Friction 26.5 12.72 14.95 Angle of Kinetic Friction Height of Angle of Coefficient Coefficient Static Friction Static Friction of Static of Kinetic Friction Friction 31.4 24.5 25.4

Experimental Calculations: 1.) To calculate the angle of static friction for each object take insert the following calculations into your calculator: angle of static friction = tan-1( 2.) To calculate the angle of kinetic friction for each object take insert the following calculations into your calculator: angle of kinetic friction = tan-1( Analysis: 1.) If the shoe had a different tread pattern would the coefficient of friction change? Which one and why?

2.) Calculate the coefficients of static and kinetic friction of each object. Hint: coefficient of friction = tan(angle of friction)
3.) A basketball player of stops abruptly on a wooden court with a force of 100 Newtons and 100 Newtons forward. If the basketball player is wearing the shoes in this experiment and the floor is made out of the same material as the ramp in this experiment does the basketball player slip?

Evaluation: Random sources of error came from the fact that the height of the board could not be calculated accurately due to the fact that there were slight movements of the board due to the user having to hold it by hand. To reduce this source of error multiple trials could be ran in order get a better average. Systematic sources of error came from the fact that the person holding the board would always stop lowering the board at an angle slightly less than required. Therefore the coefficients were slightly higher. To reduce this source of error the difference between the theoretical and the experimental angle could be calculated. That difference could then be used to adjust the values of the experiment.

Synthesis: Using experimental proof one could perform the experiment previously stated by using an object with and without a weight attached. The angle of repose should be the same regardless of the mass. Mathematically the angle of repose is calculated by using tan(theta)= coefficient of friction. This equation has no variable for mass so therefore the coefficient cannot be changed by a difference in mass. This means that mass does not affect the coefficient of static or kinetic friction for an object on a slope.