Friction and Newton’s Third Law

Aim

The main aim of this practical is to determine values of the coefficient of static friction and the coefficient of
kinetic friction of an object.

Theory

In this lab we will be performing 2 experiments and by using the equipment’s given in the experiment 1 we
will calculate the value of static friction coefficient μs by calculating tanθ. And, in the experiment 2 we will
a
calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction μk by tanθ− .
gcosθ

Method

Experiment 1: determine friction coefficient of static friction μs

 Calculate the length of the pipe using the ruler.

 Calculate the horizontal length using the ruler.
 Calculate the value of tanθ which is also μs .

Experiment 2: determine the coefficient of kinetic friction ¿) for 3 different blocks.

 calculate the length of pipe.

 calculate the horizontal length.
 Calculateθ .
 Then we will calculate the time taken for the block to fall from inclined plane using stopwatch.
2x
 Then we will calculate a through formula a= 2
t
 We will take mean of value of μk and μs from calculator
 Calculate value of standard deviation through calculator for both.
 At the end sketch the graphs of the mean of μk and μs vs mass and area.
Result

Experiment 1

Block tanϴ tanϴ tanϴ ( μ s)2SF

1 (M, A) 0.394 0.361 0.341 0.37
2 (2M, A) 0.381 0.424 0.361 0.39
3 (2M,2A) 0.384 0.367 0.365 0.37

 μs =tanϴ
H
Block 1 (M, A): B
L
H=28 H=26 H=25
l=71 l=72 L=73

28 26 25
tanθ= =0.394 tanθ= =0.361 tanθ= =0.34 1
71 72 73

0.394+0.361+0.341
μs = =0.37
3

Block 2 (2M, A):

H=27 H=28 H=26

l=71 l=70 L=72
27 28 26
tanθ= =0.381 tanθ= =0.424 tanθ= =0.361
71 70 72

0.381+ 0.424+0.361
μs = =0.39
3

Block 3 (2M,2A):

H=27.5 H=25 H=24.5

l=71.5 l=68 L=67
27.5 25 24.5
tanθ= =0.384 tanθ= =0.367 tanθ= =0.365
71.5 68 67

0.384+0.367+ 0.365
μs = =0.37
3
Free body diagram

Experiment 2

a
μk =tan θ' −
gcosθ

1
x=v i t + a t 2 vi =0
2

2x
a=
t2

Block x 0 t1 t2 t3 a1 a2 a3 ( μk ) 2 SF
1 (M, A) 71.3 21 1.19 1.09 1.09 100 120 120 -12
2 (2M, A) 71.3 21 1.25 1.25 1.22 91 101 96 -10
3 (2M,2A) 71.3 21 1.19 1.15 1.16 101 108 106 -11

Block 1 (M, A):

x=71.3 x=71.3 x=71.3

t 1=1.19 θ=21 t 2=1.09 θ=21 t 3=1.09 θ=21
2(71.3) 2(71.3) 2(71.3)
a 1= =100 a 2= =120 a 3= =120
(1.19)2 (1.09)2 (1.09)2

113
μk =tan ( 21 )− =−12
9.8 cos ( 21 )

Block 2 (2M, A):

 x=71.3 x=71.3 x=71.3
t 1=1.25 θ=21 t 2=1.19 θ=21 t 3=1.22 θ=21
2(71.3) 2(71.3) 2(71.3)
a 1= =91 a 2= =101 a 3= =96
(1.25)2 (1.19)2 (1.22)2

96
μk =tan(21)' − =−10
9.8 cos ( 21 )

Block 3 (2M,2A):

x=71.3 x=71.3 x=71.3

t 1=1.19 θ=21 t 2=1.15 θ=21 t 3=1.16 θ=21
2(71.3) 2(71.3) 2(71.3)
a 1= =101 a 2= =108 a 3= =106
(1.19)2 (1.15)2 (1.16)2

105
μk =tan (21)' − =−11
9.8 cos ( 21 )

Free body diagram

Results: -

Determining the class average and standard deviation of μk and μs for 3 bocks.

Block 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 mean σ 1 SF
1 (M, A) μs 0.381 0.385 0.368 0.415 0.421 0.278 0.37 0.26 0.39 0.35 0.36 0.05
2 (2M, A) μs 0.38 0.311 0.298 0.312 0.435 0.345 0.28 0.37 0.38 0.29 0.34 0.05
3 (2M,2A) μs 0.372 0.31 0.398 0.256 0.342 0.438 0.32 0.39 0.56 0.28 0.37 0.08
1 (M, A) μk 0.259 0.245 0.198 0.211 0.311 0.285 0.25 0.39 0.19 0.26 0.26 0.06
2 (2M, A) μk 0.278 0.241 0.311 0.187 0.198 0.266 0.24 0.30 0.19 0.28 0.25 0.04
3 (2M,2A) μk 0.269 0.222 0.265 0.167 0.321 0.298 0.21 0.27 0.31 0.31 0.27 0.05
Analysis

Graph 1:
Mass vs coefficient of friction( μk and μs )

Graph 2:
Area vs coefficient of friction( μk and μs )
Conclusion

In this lab we conclude that the value of coefficient of static friction μS is larger than the coefficient of kinetic
friction μk . The value of mass and area does not have any effect on μS and μk .

Appendix