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Lisa Soy
Physics 1061-042
BA-100 (Monday 11-1)

Lab# 7 Coefficient of Friction

Aim:
We will measure or try to find coefficient of friction of a wood block with different
masses sliding on an inclined plane. Thus, our goal is to prove that friction is not dependent
between the wood block and the inclined plane and that the force is proportional to the normal
force acting on the block.

Theory:
Friction forces: Forces that arise whenever objects with surfaces in contact move relative
to one another. They are electromagnetic in matter and arise from electrostatic repetition of some
irregularities in the surface.

There are two types-

Static friction force- exists when object are at rest relative to one another.
FS= uS(FN)

Kinetic friction force- it arises when the objects move relative to each other.
FK= uK(FN)
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Procedure:

1. Weigh mass of block in kg. Set up as shown in diagram. For part 1- degree anle is
balance at 0 degree.
2. The string should connect to the block as pass over to the pulley where the hanging
mass weight is.
3. According to the data you should add weights on top of the block in increments of .
01kg till you reach up to .07kg for 8 total experiment trials.
4. For each trial you are trying to find the mass (in the hanging mass(MH)) that will
force the mass of block to move in constant motion. For example., for mass of
block(MB)+.01kg added, you will need to add mass to the hanging mass(MH) till the
mass of block (MB) starts to move in constant acceleration. You do this 8 times but
with different mass of block (MB)+ extra mass added.
5. In part B, you move the inclined to 40o. For this trial you don’t add no mass to MB,
but you will need to add mass the hanging mass (MH) to know when the MB starts to
move in constant motion.

PART 1- 0o incline & Metal Broad Side

FK= mg = (.09kg)(9.8m/s2)= 0.882N= 0.89N

FN= FB= 3.597N

For 1st value: uk= (Fk/FN)= (0.89N/3.597N)= 0.25

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Mass added MH (kg): Hanged FK(N)=MH x g FN=[MB(kg) + mass added uk= FK/FN
to block mass req. to start to block]x 9.8m/s2
(kg) & maintain
constant motion = ___ N

0.1 0.115 1.127 (0.367+0.1)9.8=4.5766 0.25

0.2 0.135 1.323 (0.367+0.2)9.8=5.5566 0.24

0.3 0.145 1.42 (0.367+0.3)9.8=6.5366 0.22
1
0.4 0.170 1.66 (0.367+0.4)9.8=7.5166 0.22
6
0.5 0.185 1.813 (0.367+0.5)9.8=8.4966 0.21

0.6 0.210 2.058 (0.367+0.6)9.8=9.4766 0.22

0.7 0.225 2.205 (0.367+0.7)9.8=10.4566 0.21

**Note: Just the hanging mass itself is 0.05kg**

**g: is the value of gravity 9.8m/s2**
Mass of the block (MB) that was measured was 0.367kg
Note : the average value of uK from 8 different masses is uK= 0.23

Thus, slope (m)= 0.189 and y-intercept= 0.23

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Part B- 40o Incline (Metal Board Side)

@ Equilibrium: EFx= 0; FK= -FBsin(0)

EFy= 0; FN= -FBcos(0)
FK= uKFN + FS= (MH)g=____ N
= (0.335)9.8=3.283N

As the block starts to move

FBcos0 = 0.367 x 9.8 + cos40o= 2.75N
FS= FBsin0 = 0.367 x 9.8 x sin40o=2.31N
uK= (FK- FS)/ FN= (3.28-2.31)/2.75= 0.35

Comment:
Through the experiment, I had some trouble but manage to get the answers down. Within
the table in part 1, all the coefficient of friction (uK) were close to each other. Due to some
technical measurements of when I determine how much mass added will determine a constant
motion. The coefficient is not dependent on the contact body forces between the two surfaces. In
real-life application there is always a difference in measuring and weighing objects but most
answers are approximate to each other and thus we can note that in this experiment that the force
is proportional to the normal force acting on the block. In part 2, my coefficient was 0.35. maybe
there was an error somewhere since my value is not really close to example in part one, because
this part dealt with an inclined plane of 40o. Thus, static and kinetic are involved in this part.