Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering

Universiti Malaysia Pahang

BFF2821 Mechanics Laboratory

Title Sliding frictions Category Friction

Prepared by Matrix No.

Matrix No.

Date/Time

1. Introduction

When two rough surfaces are made to slide over each other, the uneven surface resists the sliding. Sometime, the
force is large enough to cause some materials on the surface to tear away. In reality, even smooth surface have
microscopic roughness, which causes friction. The friction force must be overcome before the sliding take place
(figure 1)

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 is denoted by the symbol ., Friction which opposes
movement from rest is called the static friction.

© FKP-UMP 2018
Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Pahang

Graph 1: Friction Force versus Normal Force

Law1
When two bodies are in contact, the direction of the forces of Friction on one of them at its point of
contact is opposite to the direction in which the point of contact tends to move relative to the other.

Law2
If the bodies are in equilibrium, the force of Friction is just sufficient to prevent friction and may
therefore be determined by applying the conditions of equilibrium of all the forces acting on the body.

The amount of Friction that can be exerted between two surfaces is limited and if the forces acting on
the body are made sufficiently great, motion will occur. Hence, we define limiting friction or Static Friction
as the friction which is exerted when equilibrium is on the point of being broken by one body sliding
on another. The magnitude of limiting friction or Static Friction is given by the following three laws.

Law3
The ratio of the limiting friction or Static Friction to the Normal reaction between two surfaces depends on
the substances of which the surfaces are composed and not on the magnitude of the Normal reaction.

This ratio is usually denoted by µ.

Thus if the Normal reaction is N, the limiting friction or Static Friction, Fs = µs N for given
materials polished to the same standard is found to be constant and independent of N. µ is
called The Coefficient of friction

Law4
The amount of limiting friction or Static Friction is independent of the area of contact between the two
surfaces and of the shape of the surfaces, provided that the Normal reaction is unaltered.

Law5
When motion takes place the direction of friction is opposite to the direction of relative motion and
independent of velocity. The magnitude of the force of friction is in a constant ratio to the Normal
reaction but this ratio may be slightly less than when the body is just on the point of moving.

The objective of this experiment is to verify the law of friction and to measure the coefficient of friction for
different materials.

2. Apparatus
Apparatus Quantity/Specification Figure

Mounting panel 1 -

Plane assembly 1

© FKP-UMP 2018
Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Pahang

Apparatus Quantity/Specification Figure

Friction block w/cord 1

Friction plate 1

Knurled nuts 2

Plumb bob & line 1

Weight hook 1

Weights 1 set NIL

Spring balance 10N

3. Procedure

3.1 Preparation

1. Secure the mounting panel in the vertical position.

2. Mount the assembly by placing the stud through the H4 hole, the stud on the column through C8. Secure
with nuts.
3. Hang the plumb line over the protractor center screw and ensure that the plane is horizontal.
4. Weight the friction block with spring balance and record its weight.
5. Place the friction block at the left end of the plane with the wood surface downwards and assemble the
cord over the pulley.
6. Attach the 0.1N weight hook to the end of the cord.

Figure 1: Experiment setup

© FKP-UMP 2018
Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Pahang

3.2 Test 1 (Wood on wood)

1. Place weights on the hook.

2. Give the block a starting push as each weight is applied until the weight is sufficient to pull the block
along the plane with a slow uniform speed.
3. Record your results.

3.3 Test 2 (Wood on wood)

1. Repeat Test 1 but do not assist the block by pushing it.

2. Place weights on the hook (very carefully) until the block begins to move.
3. As soon as the static friction is overcome, the block will move quickly along the plane.
4. Record your result.

3.4 Test 3 (Wood on wood): effect of area of contact

1. Turn the block on its narrow side.

2. Test for Test 1 and record your result.
3. Repeat for the other narrow side of the block.
4. Record your result.

3.5 Test 4 (Wood on wood)

1. Replace the friction block in its original position as for Test 1.

2. Add loads of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4N to the friction block (place on top of its peg) and find the equivalent
forces to overcome kinetic friction.
3. Record your results.

3.6 Test 5 (Metal on metal)

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

2. With its metal side upwards, reverse the loading peg in the friction block and place it on the plate with
its metal side downwards to give a metal to metal contact.
3. Repeat as for Test 4 and record your result.

3.7 Test 6 (Metal on rubber)

1. Turn the friction plate over, place the rubber side upwards to give metal to rubber contact between the
block and plate.
2. Because the friction is so great, you will find it more difficult to judge the force required.
3. Aim at causing the block to move at a constant speed along the length of the plane.
4. Repeat as for Test 4 and record your results.

4. Results

Plot a graph of the frictional force, F versus normal force exerted between the surfaces, R (on a piece of paper) as
shown in Figure 2. The value of R is equal to the total weight of the block and the weights on top of it.

© FKP-UMP 2018
Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Pahang

Figure 2: Graph frictional force F versus the normal force R

Using your graph, calculate the coefficient of friction for wood on wood. Repeat the procedure and calculate the
coefficient of friction values for wood on metal and metal on rubber.

5. Discussions

Based on your results obtained, write your answers for the following questions:

1. From your result, write down the laws of friction. State how friction is affected by 1) the area of contact
between the two surfaces, 2) the pressure between the two surfaces.
2. Explain the difference between the static and kinetic friction.
3. Give a good practical example when friction is an advantage and when it is a disadvantage.

6. Conclusions

Write your conclusions accordingly.

© FKP-UMP 2018