AMITY UNIVERSITY, KOLKATA

MECHANICAL & AUTOMATION ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Course Title: Engineering Mechanics Lab Course Code: ES101

Credit Unit: 04 Experiment No:

Aim:
To measure the Co-efficient of friction of different surfaces.

Apparatus:
Inclined Plane, Sliding boxes with different surfaces, String and Scale Pan

Theory:
Method I:

The co-efficient of friction can be found by three different ways on the inclined plane, In method 1, the inclined plane
is kept horizontal and the sliding box is given a horizontal pull P. In the limiting case, when the box just slides P = µW
or µ = P/W

Method II:

The inclined plane is kept in an inclined position and the sliding box is pulled upwards along the inclined plane by a
force P. When the box just slides,
R = W cosθ
P = W sinθ + µ W cosθ
Or µ = (P – W sinθ) / W cosθ

Method III:

The sliding box is kept in the horizontal plane, and the plane is raised gradually until the box just slides. If θ is the
angle when the bos just slides

W cosθ = W sinθ or µ = tanθ

Procedure:
The weights of the scale pan and the weights of the sliding boxes should be noted. One end of the string is attached to
the sliding box and the other end of the string to the scale pan. The sliding box, the string and the scale pan should be
attached as shown in fig. Put a moderate in the sliding box.

For method 1, the inclined plane should be placed in a horizontal psition. Put small weights on the scale pan, and
increase the weight gradually until the sliding box just starts the slide. The experment can be repeated with different
weight in the sliding box.

In method II, the inclined plane should be raised to a certain position and clamped. Put small weights on the scale pan
gradually incresing until the box just starts to slide. Experiment can be repeated with different weights in the sliding
box and different angles of inclination.

In metod III, takeout scale pan with the string. The inclined plane is raised from a horizontal position slowly until the
box just start to slide. This experiment can also be repeated with different weight in the sliding box.

Observation:

Method 01-

SL NO Wt. of Wt. in Total Wt. of Wt in Total µ=P/W

Box(a)in Box(b) in Wt.(W=a+b)in Pan(C)in Pan(d) in wt.(P=c+d)in
gm gm gm gm gm gm

Method 02-

SL NO Wt. of Wt. in Total Wt. of Wt in Total Angle(Ɵ) µ=P-

Box(a)in Box(b) Wt.(W=a+b)in Pan(C)in Pan(d) wt.(P=c+d)in in ° wsinƟ/WcosƟ
gm in gm gm gm in gm gm
Method 03-

SL NO Wt. of Wt. in Wt. of Wt in Total Angle(Ɵ) µ=tanƟ

Box(a)in Box(b) Pan(C)in Pan(d) wt.(P=a+b+c)in in °
gm in gm gm in gm gm

Conclusion:

Precautions:
1. Clean the two surfaces so that ther is no grease or send sticking to the surfaces.
2. Increse the angle very slowly.
3. Particular region of the inclined Board may be used.
4. The block should just begin to move, it should not move abruptly.