AM1100: Engineering Mechanics April-June 2021

Tutorial 6
FRICTION

1. The designer of a ski resort wishes to have a portion of a beginner’s slope (Fig. 1) on which
the skier’s speed will remain fairly constant. Tests indicate the average coefficients of friction
between skis and snow to be µs = 0.1 and µk = 0.08. What should be the slope angle θ of the
constant-speed section?

Fig. 1

2. The uniform slender rod of mass m and length L is initially at rest in a centered horizontal
position on the fixed circular surface of radius R = 0.6L (Fig. 2). If a force P normal to the bar
is gradually applied to its end until the bar begins to slip at the angle θ = 20o , determine the
coefficient of the static friction µs .

Fig. 2

3. The tractor has a weight of 8000 lb with center of gravity at G (Fig. 3). Determine the greatest
weight of the log that can be pushed up the incline. The coefficient of static friction between
the log and the ground is µs = 0.5, and between the rear wheels of the tractor and the ground
0
µs = 0.7. The front wheels are free to roll. Assume the engine can develop enough torque to
cause the rear wheels to slip.

Fig. 3

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AM1100: Engineering Mechanics April-June 2021

4. Wire is being drawn at a constant rate from a spool by applying a vertical force P to the wire
as shown in Fig. 4. The spool and the wire wrapped on the spool have a combined weight of
20 lb. Knowing that the coefficients of friction at both A and B are µs = 0.40 and µk = 0.30,
determine the required magnitude of the force P .

Fig. 4

5. A ladder 6 m long, weighting 300 N, is resting against a wall at an angle of 60◦ with the horizontal
plane as shown in Fig. 5. A man weighting 750 N climbs the ladder from position B towards A.
At what position along the ladder from the bottom of the ladder does he induce slipping? The
coefficient of friction for both the wall and the ground with the ladder is 0.2.

Fig. 5

6. A block of weight 150 kN is to be listed up with the help of a wedge as shown in Fig. 6. Determine
the value of P for impending motion of weight upwards. Take coefficient of friction for all contact
surfaces as 0.32 and weight of wedge as negligible.

Fig. 6

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AM1100: Engineering Mechanics April-June 2021

7. The coefficient of static friction between wedges B and C is 0.6 and between surfaces of contact
B and A and C and D is 0.4. When the spring is compressed 200 mm when in the position shown
in Fig. 7, determine the smallest force C needed to move wedge C to the left. Neglect the weight
of the wedge.

Fig. 7

8. A pipe of diameter 60 mm is gripped by the stillson wrench shown in Fig. 8. Portions AB and
DE of the wrench are rigidly attached to each other, and portion CF is connected by a pin
at D. If the wrench is to grip the pipe and be self-locking, determine the required minimum
coefficients of friction at A and C.

Fig. 8