BASIC OF ENGINEERING

MECHANICS
(Friction)

Atul Mani
Amity University
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 2

Friction
• Whenever the surfaces of two bodies are in contact, there
is some resistance to sliding between them.
• The opposing force to the movement is called friction or
force of friction.
• It is due to interlocking of surfaces as a result of the
presence of some roughness and irregularities at the
contact surfaces.
• The resisting force acts in the direction opposite to the
movement.
• A force of friction comes into play whenever there is a
relative motion between two parts.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 3

Friction Cont.
• Friction can be of the following two types:
• Static Friction
• Dynamic Friction
• The friction experienced by a body when at rest is known
as static friction. The friction experienced by a body
when at motion is known as dynamic friction. It is also
known as kinetic friction.
• Static friction is the friction between two surfaces
that are not in relative motion with each other,
while Dynamic (Kinetic) friction is the friction between
two surfaces that are in relative motion with respect to
each other.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 4

Friction Cont.
• Static Friction can take any value from zero to its
maximum (µ sN) and its value is always equal to the
applied force.
• Kinetic friction have a constant magnitude (µ kN)
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 5

Laws of Friction
Following are the 5 laws of friction:
1. When an object is moving, the friction is proportional and
perpendicular to the normal force (N)
2. Friction is independent of the area of contact so long as there
is an area of contact.
3. The coefficient of static friction is slightly greater than the
coefficient of kinetic friction.
4. Within rather large limits, kinetic friction is independent of
velocity.
5. Friction depends upon the nature of the surfaces in contact.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 6

Friction Force
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Coefficient of Friction
• It is ratio of limiting frictional force and the normal
reaction.
• µ depends upon the nature of contacting surface. Its
value is very low for lubri- cated surfaces and high
for dry friction.
• As friction is of two types static and dynamic;
coefficient of friction is also of two types:
• Coefficient of Static Friction µs
• Coefficient of Dynamic Friction µk
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 8

Limiting Friction
• When a body just starts to slide over the surface of
another one , the frictional force is developed
between the surfaces. The maximum value of that
frictional force is known as the limiting friction or
maximum static friction (µ sN) .
• The direction of limiting friction force is always the
opposite of the impending motion.
• The magnitude of the friction force is equal to the
force that tends to move the body.
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Angle of Friction
• It is the angle made by the resultant (R) of the
normal reaction (N) and limiting force of friction (ƒ)
and made with the direction of normal reaction.
• R is the resultant of normal reaction N and force of
friction ƒ.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 10

Cone of Friction
• The angle of friction is
used when we consider
only motion in one plane.
But if the direction of the
applied force changes in
the plane than the friction
force also rotates to
oppose it. Then the cone
made by the rotation of
resultant of friction force
and normal reaction is
known as cone of
friction.
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Angle of Repose
• The angle of repose is the maximum angle that a
surface can be tilted from the horizontal, such that an
object on it is just able to stay on the surface without
it sliding down.
 By: Atul Mani, Amity University 12

Angle of Repose Cont.

• Let us consider a body of mass ‘m’ resting on a plane. Also, consider when the
plane makes ‘θ’ angle with the horizontal, the body just begins to move.
• Let ‘R’ be the normal reaction of the body and ‘F’ be the frictional force. Here,
m g sinθ = F ——> (i)
m g cosθ = R ——>(ii)
Dividing equation (i) by (ii)
tanθ = µ,
where ‘µ’ is the coefficient of friction
tanθ = tanɑ (as tanɑ = µ)
where ‘ɑ’ is the angle of friction
θ=ɑ
Hence Angle of repose is equal to angle of friction.
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Advantages of Friction
Friction plays a vital role in our daily life. Followings
are the few advantages of Friction:
• We can write on a paper or on a board.
• Friction helps in applying the brakes.
• It helps in walking on floor.
• Belt Pulley works due to friction only.
• Automobile runs due to friction between tyres and
road.
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Disadvantages of Friction
• The main disadvantage of friction is that it produces
heat in various parts of machines. In this way some
useful energy is wasted as heat energy.
• Due to friction we have to exert more power in
machines.
• It opposes the motion.
• Due to friction, noise is also produced in machines.
• Due to friction, engines of automobiles consume
more fuel due to loss due to friction.
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Methods to reduce Friction

There are a number of methods to reduce friction in which some
are discussed here.
• Use Of Lubricants: The parts of machines which are moving
over one another must be properly lubricated by using oils and
lubricants of suitable viscosity.
• Use Of Grease: Proper greasing between the sliding parts of
machine reduces the friction.
• Use Of Ball Bearing: In machines where possible, sliding
friction can be replaced by rolling friction by using ball
bearings.
• Design Modification: Friction can be reduced by changing the
design of fast moving objects. The front of vehicles and
airplanes made oblong to minimize friction.
Ladder Friction By: Atul Mani, Amity University 16
Ladder Friction Cont. By: Atul Mani, Amity University 17