ENGINEERING FACULTY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Laboratory Report

Angle of Friction

57376514

Subject:

MEM101S

Technician

M M Fasi

Date:

29 October 2015

DANY MATANGWA

Signed:

I (We) swear that this is the original work of the author(s). All information obtained directly or indirectly
from other sources has been fully acknowledged.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.

Aim of the Experiment

2.

Theoretical Background

3.

Experimental Apparatus

4.

Experimental Procedure

5.

Results

6.

Discussion of Results

7.

Conclusion

Appendix A: Experimental Readings and Calculations

Figure 1: Angle of friction equipment and investigation of angle of
friction
Table1: Table of results

1.

AIM OF THE LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

To determine the angle of friction for various materials in contact, and to find the
relation between angle of friction and coefficient of friction.

2.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

3.

EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS

Friction plane, pulley, cord, weights, spring balance and sliders with same surface
materials as used in previous experiment.

Figure 1: Angle of friction equipment and investigation of

angle of friction

4.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
a) Place a slider on the plane. Use the same slider and the same plane that you
used in previous experiment, so that you already know the value of the
coefficient of friction that exists between these two surfaces. If you do not
have this value, you should carry out Experiment 5 before doing this one, in
order to determine it.
b) Tilt the plane gradually, until the slider just begins to move. Keeping the plane
in this position, measure the height h, the corresponding length l, and so
find tan .

5.

RESULTS

Record your readings/findings in the table1 below. Ensure the correct use of significant figures.
Table1: Table of Results
Reading no. Surfaces in contact

Tan .

BRASS

17 cm

44 cm

0,39

Coefficient of
friction
previously
determined
0,26

WOOD

19 cm

44 cm

0,43

0,35

GLASS

12,5 cm

44 cm

0,28

0,29

1
2
3

6.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
a) Compare the values of tan with the values of the coefficient of friction, for
each of the different materials.

For the brass, the difference between the two values is quite large and tan is bigger
that the coefficient of friction. Its the same thing with the wood and its tan is also bigger than its
coefficient of friction but its a totally different story with the glass; not only the difference between
the two values is fairly negligible, with the glass the coefficient of friction is bigger than tan

7.

CONCLUSION
The experiment was meant to determine the angle of friction for various
materials in contact however, there seems to be a problem with the numbers
obtained because the tan of the angle of friction doesnt equals the coefficient
of friction.

CALCULATIONS:

Tan = h/l

BRASS: tan = 17/44=0,39

WOOD: tan = 19/44= 0,43
GLASS: tan = 12,5/44= 0,28

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