MECHANICS LAB .

smooth

LAB 9 SLIDING FRICTION

roughness, which causes friction. The

TO VERIFY THE LAW OF

FRICTION

surface

have

microscopic

friction force must be overcome before the

sliding take place (figure 1)

Nur Syamiza Binti Zamri , FA14030 ,

Faculty

Of

Engineering

Manufacturing
Universiti

Malaysia

Pahang
Abstract
The objective of this experiment is to
verify the law of friction and to measure
the coefficient of friction for different
materials. The wooden block has a layer of
sand paper P180 , sand paper P800 and
rubber , hence the experiment was
conducted on rubber mounting plane to
compare the result .From the result we can

Figure 1: Force acting when pushing a

block
In practice, it is known that the friction
force is proportionate to the force that
presses the surfaces of contact. This
proportion is called the Coefficient of
Friction

which

symbol.,

is

Friction

denoted
which

by

the

opposes

movement from rest is called the static

friction.

compare about area of contact between

two surface , pressure between two surface
and coefficient of friction between two
materials. So, the increasing of contact
surface will increase the friction . Other
than that , the increases the pressure will
make block difficult to move . Lastly ,

coefficient of friction of material can be

Law 1:

determine in this experiment .

When object is moving, the friction is

1) Introduction
When two rough surfaces are made to

proportional and perpendicular to the

normal force.

slide over each other, the uneven surface

Law 2:

resists the sliding. Sometime, the force is

Friction is dependent of the area of contact

large enough to cause some materials on

so long as there is an area of contact.

the surface to tear away. In reality, even

4. Weighted the friction block with spring

Law 3:

balance and recorded its weight.

The coefficient of static friction is slightly

5. Placed the friction block at the left end

greater than the coefficient of kinetic

of the plane with the wood surface

friction.

downwards and assembled the cord over

Law 4:

the pulley.

Wihtin rather large limits, kinetic friction

6. Attached the 0.1N weight hook to the

is independent if velocity.

end of the cord.

Law 5:
Friction depends upon the nature of the
surface in contact
1) Apparatus
No
1

Apparatus
Friction

Quantity
1

block w/cord
Spring

10N

balance
Knurled nuts

Picture

3.2 Test 1 (Rubber on rubber)

4
5

Friction plate
Plastic

1
2

Hanger
6

Slotted Mass

Set

3) Procedure
3.1 Preparation
1. Secured the mounting panel in the
vertical position.
2. Mounted the assembly by placing the
stud through the H4 hole, the stud on the
column through C8. Secured with nuts .
3. Hung the plumb line over the protractor
center screw and ensure that the plane is
horizontal.

1. Placed weights on the hook.

2. Gave the block a starting pushed as each
weight is applied until the weight is
sufficient to pull the block along the plane
with a slow uniform speed.
3. Recorded your results.
3.3 Test 2 (Rubber on rubber)
1. Repeated Test 1 but do not assist the
block by pushing it.
2. Placed weights on the hook (very
carefully) until the block began to move.
3. As soon as the static friction is
overcome, the block move quickly along
the plane.

4. Recorded your result.

rubber contact between the block and

plate.

3.4 Test 3 (Rubber on rubber ) effect of

2. Because the friction is so great, you will

area of contact

find it more difficult to judge the force

1. Turn the block on its narrow side.

required.

2. Tested for Test 1 and recorded your

3. Aim at causing the block to move at a

result.

constant speed along the length of the

3. Repeated for the other narrow side of

plane.

the block.

4. Repeated as for Test 4 and record your

4. Recorded your result.

results.

3.5 Test 4 (Rubber on rubber)

1. Replaced the friction block in its

4) Result and Calculation

4.1 Result

original position as for Test 1.

2. Added loads of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4N to

Preparation

the friction block (place on top of its peg)

Mass of Block = 90 g

and found the equivalent forces to

Weight of Block = 1N

overcome kinetic friction.

3. Recorded your results.

Test 1(Rubber on rubber)

Mass applied (g)

Total weight (N)

Friction

0.8
0.9
1.0

movement
Not moving
Not moving
Moving wit

3.6 Test 5 (Rubber on sand paper P800)

1. Placed the friction plate on the plane
between the stops.

70
80
90

2. With its metal side upwards, reversed

speed

the loading peg in the friction block and

placed it on the plate with its metal side
downwards to give a metal to metal
contact.
3. Repeated as for Test 4 and recorded
your result.
3.7 Test 6 (Rubber on sand paper P180)
1. Turn the friction plate over, placed the
rubber side upwards to give metal to

100

1.1

Moving with

Test 2 (Rubber on rubber)

Mass applied (g)

Total weight (N)

Friction

80
90
100

0.9
1.0
1.1

movement
Not moving
Not moving
Moving wit
speed

110

1.2

Moving with fast

Test 6(Rubber on sand paper P180)

Test 3(Rubber on rubber ) effect of area

of contact
Mass

Total

applied

weight

(g)

(N)

90
100

110

1.0
1.1

1.2

Load added on peg (N)

0.6
1.1
Narrow side Narrow side
1.6
1
2
2.1
Friction
Friction
2.6
weight

weight

movement
Not moving
Moving

movement
Not moving
Moving

with

with

uniform

uniform

speed

speed

Moving

Moving

with fast

with fast

Test 4(Rubber on rubber)

Load added on peg (N)

Total load needed to

0.6
1.1
1.6
2.1
2.6

move the block (N)

1.6
1.8
2.3
3.0
3.4

4.2 Calculation
Test 4

2.841.67
2.11.1

=1.17
Test 5

Test 5(Rubber on sand paper P800-more

smooth)
Load added on peg (N)
0.6
1.1
1.6
2.1
2.6

1.671.37
1.61.1

Total load n
0.98
1.57
2.16
3.04
4.12

=0.6
Test 6

Within rather large limits, kinetic friction

is independent if velocity.
Law 5:
Friction depends upon the nature of the
surface in contact.
the area of contact between the two
surfaces,

4.123.04
2.62.1

=2.16

Friction is affected by the area of the

contact between two surfaces because of
the normal forces available on the object
and the roughness of those surfaces.
the pressure between the two surfaces.
For low surface pressure the friction is
directly proportional to the pressure

5) Discussion

between the surfaces. As the pressure rises

1. From your result, write down the laws

the friction factor rises slightly. A very

of friction. State how friction is affected

high pressure the friction factor then

by

quickly increases to seizing.

Law 1:
When object is moving, the friction is

2. Explain the difference between the static

proportional and perpendicular to the

and kinetic friction.

normal force.
Law 2:

Static friction results when surface of two

Friction is dependent of the area of contact

objects are at rest relative to one another

so long as there is an area of contact.

and a force exists on one of the objects to

Law 3:

set it into motion relative to other object,

The coefficient of static friction is slightly

such as either at rest or rolling.

greater than the coefficient of kinetic

friction.

Kinetic friction results when an object

moves across a surface.

Law 4:

3. Give a good practical example when

roughness and contact area affect kinetic

friction is an advantage and when it is a

friction for micro- and nano-scale objects

disadvantage.

where surface area forces dominate inertial

forces.[3] Other than that , the increases the

The advantages of friction are that may

pressure will make block difficult to

help in walking and braking system. The

move . Lastly , coefficient of friction of

drawback of friction is it may make

material

movement more difficult if it is too high

experiment .

can

be

determine

in

this

and may waste energy.

7) References
6) Conclusion
Friction is the force resisting the relative
motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and

1) "friction". Merriam-Webster
Dictionary.
2) Benjamin Silliman, Principles

material elements sliding against each

of

other.[1] As a conclusion , the increasing of

Philosophy,

contact surface will increase the friction .

Blakeman,

Sliding may occur between two objects of

company

arbitrary shape, whereas rolling friction is

pages {1871)

the frictional force associated with the

Physics,

Or

Natural
Ivison,

Taylor

&

publishers,

710

3) Persson, B. N. J. (2000).

rotational movement of a somewhat

Sliding

friction:

physical

disclike or other circular object along a

principles and applications.

surface. Generally the frictional force of

Springer.

rolling friction is less than that associated

67192-3. Retrieved 2016-01-

with sliding kinetic friction.[2] . Surface

23.

ISBN 978-3-540-