The coefficient of friction lab

Objectives:
1. measure the amount of normal and frictional forces acting on an object starting in
motion and already in motion
2. comparer coefficient of static friction to coefficient of kinetic friction

materials
- pulley
- masking tape
- string(about 1 meter)
- wood block

procedures
1. check your spring scale to make sure it reads zero when held vertically
2. measure the weight of the block of wood and record the value as the normal fove
in data table 1
3. attach the pulley clamp to the edge of the table

static friction procedure:

4. Unhook the string from the spring scale and run it through the pully. Then
reattach it to the spring scale
5. move the wood block as far away from the pulley as the string permits
6. with the spring scale oriented vertically so that a right angle is formed between
scale and the table, slowly pull up on the spring scale. Observe the foce that is
necessary to cause the block to being sliding. Record this value for the static
frictional force in the data table 2
7. repeat steps 6 and 7 for four additional trials

Kinetic friction procedure

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7. However, over the block begins sliding, pull just hard
enough to keep it moving at a constant speed across the horizontal surface.
Record this force as the kinetic friction for in data table 3
9. repeat step 8 for four additional trials

data table 1
Weight (N) Normal force (N)
3.7 N 3.7 N

Data table 2: static friction force

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
1.5 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.3

Data table3: kinetic friction force

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
1.0 .9 1.0. 2.0 .9
Quantitative analysis

1. average static friction = 1.4

2. coefficient of static friction = .38
3. average kinetic friction= .96
4. coefficient of kinetic friction = .26
5. static friction is always higher than the kinetic friction because it takes more force
to start movement

Qualitative analysis
1. the variables that affect friction are texture and mass
2. the difference between static and kinetic friction is Static friction is static means
stationary, so the force required to set something into movement and kinetic
friction is the applied force
3. static friction is greater than kinetic friction because static requires more force
because it is the initial movement
4. the coefficient of friction describes the friction between two forces
5. it is necessary to pull the block at a constant speed in order to determine kinetic
friction because constant speed is the most accurate
6. the direction of friction is opposite the direction of motion
7. if I were to repeat this experiment with a heavier block, the kinetic friction would
have increased
8. if I were to repeat this experiment with a heavier block, the coefficient of kinetic
friction would remain constant