Week 4: Friction and Tension

M. Pavlidou@bham.ac.uk
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 Facts about friction
• The maximum value of friction 𝐹 is decided by the nature of the two surfaces in
contact and the normal contact force 𝑁 between them
• Friction can be calculated from the equation
𝐹 = 𝜇𝑁
where 𝜇 is the coefficient of friction – a dimensionless number with value that
depends on the nature of surfaces
• 𝜇 is lower for surfaces sliding against each other (coefficient of sliding or kinetic
friction) than it is for the same surfaces at rest (coefficient of static friction)
• 𝜇 varies with temperature and humidity
• Friction is independent of contact area (think: why do some car drivers buy wide
tyres?)
• The direction of friction is opposite to the direction of the motion at the point of
contact
Direction of friction
Question: which way is friction?
 Question
Find the relationship between the coefficient of
friction 𝜇 and the angle 𝜃 if the box is sliding at
constant velocity.

𝜃
Friction: the reality
 Friction: the reality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO5bq6x_Tws
Friction: the reality
 Limiting friction, angle of friction
The maximum value of static friction, when motion
is impending, is referred to as limiting friction.

The maximum angle before which one of the items

will begin sliding is called the angle of friction; it is
defined as:
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = µs

where θ is the angle from vertical and µs is the

static coefficient of friction between the objects.
 Elasticity
• Elasticity is the property of an object or material
which causes it to be restored to its original
shape after distortion.
• When stretched, elastic objects exert a restoring
force which tends to bring them back to their
original length.
• This restoring force is generally proportional to
the amount of stretch, as described by Hooke’s
law: 𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥
 Hooke’s law
Why the
minus?
F

Gradient of graph = k
Hooke’s law is valid only up to the
x elastic limit.
 Springs in series and in parallel
Find the spring constant 𝑘𝑠 of the
system of springs in series in relation
to the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2

𝑘 𝑘
Answer: 𝑘𝑠 = 𝑘 1+𝑘2
1 2

Find the spring constant 𝑘𝑝 of the

system of springs in series in relation
to the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2

Answer: 𝑘𝑝 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
 Springs in series and in parallel
Find the spring constant 𝑘𝑠 of the
system of springs in series in relation
to the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2

𝑘 𝑘
Answer: 𝑘𝑠 = 𝑘 1+𝑘2
1 2

Find the spring constant 𝑘𝑝 of the

system of springs in series in relation
to the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2

Answer: 𝑘𝑝 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
 Springs in series and in parallel
Find the spring constant 𝑘𝑠 of the
system of springs in series in relation
to the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2

𝑘 𝑘
Answer: 𝑘𝑠 = 𝑘 1+𝑘2
1 2

Find the spring constant 𝑘𝑝 of the

system of springs in series in relation
to the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2

Answer: 𝑘𝑝 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
 Question
A load is suspended from several identical
springs in series. If another spring is added in
the series and the load remains the same what
happens to the extension of each spring?
 Modulus of elasticity
• Elastic strings: strings which are not a fixed length. Under
tension their length changes from a natural length 𝑙 to a new
length 𝑙 + 𝑥 where 𝑥 is the extension of the string.
• Hooke's Law: the tension in an elastic string (or spring), T, is
found as:
λ𝑥
𝑇=
𝑙

where λ is the modulus of elasticity in Newtons.

Spring constant - modulus of elasticity
relationship

-1
𝐹 = 𝑘𝑥 (where 𝑘 is the spring constant in Nm )

λ𝑥
𝑇= (where λ is the modulus of elasticity in N)
𝑙

λ
𝑘=
𝑙
 Worked example
A string with modulus (of elasticity) 10 N has a natural length of
2m. What is the tension in the string when its length is 5m?

• string extension = 5-2 = 3m

λ𝑥 10 ∗3
• 𝑇= = =15N
𝑙 2

So the tension in the string is 15N.

Hooke’s law: springs in tension and
compression
• Hooke’s law region is a
continuous straight line
• The positive and negative
regions are not symmetrical
• The extent of the linear
region is not the same in
compression and extension
• The curvatures of the non-
linear regions are not the
same

Non-linear region
Applied force
Elastic potential energy
• elastic strings or springs
store energy 𝐸 when
extended/compressed
• this energy is equal to
the work done against
the force exerted by the
elastic string or spring
by virtue of its tension
extension
• energy = work done =
1 1 2 1λ 2 area under graph
𝐸 = 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑘𝑥 = 𝑥
2 2 2𝑙
 Question 1
A string (which may be assumed to be light), with natural length l
and modulus of elasticity 4mg, is tied at one end to a fixed point
A. The string passes over a smooth peg B (which is fixed) and at
the other end a particle P, of mass m, is attached. The particle
hangs in equilibrium. The distance between A and B is l, and AB
is inclined at 60° to the vertical.
a) Find, in terms of l, the length of the vertical portion BP of
the string.
b) Show that the magnitude of the force exerted by the string
on the peg is 𝑚𝑔 3.
Answer: (a) BP= l/4
 Question 1
A string (which may be assumed to be light), with natural length l
and modulus of elasticity 4mg, is tied at one end to a fixed point
A. The string passes over a smooth peg B (which is fixed) and at
the other end a particle P, of mass m, is attached. The particle
hangs in equilibrium. The distance between A and B is l, and AB
is inclined at 60° to the vertical.
a) Find, in terms of l, the length of the vertical portion BP of
the string.
b) Show that the magnitude of the force exerted by the string
on the peg is 𝑚𝑔 3.
Answer: (a) BP= l/4
 Question 2
A uniform rod( which may be regarded as thin) AB, of length 3m
and mass 5kg, is freely pivoted to a fixed point A. A light elastic
string BC, with modulus of elasticity, 30N, has one end C fixed to
a point at the same level as A, where AC = 5m. When the system
is in equilibrium, ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 90°. Calculate:
a. The tension, in Newtons, in the string,
b. The natural length of the string.

Answer: (a) 0.3mg = 15N (b) 1.3m=1m

 Question 2
A uniform rod( which may be regarded as thin) AB, of length 3m
and mass 5kg, is freely pivoted to a fixed point A. A light elastic
string BC, with modulus of elasticity, 30N, has one end C fixed to
a point at the same level as A, where AC = 5m. When the system
is in equilibrium, ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 90°. Calculate:
a. The tension, in Newtons, in the string,
b. The natural length of the string.

Answer: (a) 0.3mg = 15N (b) 2.6m=3m

 Homework
From isaac physics: board named “week 3 Newton’s laws”

From Canvas: Math centre documents

• 1.8 Equilibrium of a particle
• 2.1 Newton’s first law of motion
• 2.2 Newton’s second law of motion
• 2.3 Types of force
• 2.4 Parallel forces acting together
• 2.5 Motion due to gravity
• 2.6 Forces acting at an angle: Resolving forces
• 2.7 Particles on a slope
• 2.11 Newton’s third law of motion

From the web: Conceptual physics videos 21, 22, 23, 39, 40, 41, 42
• http://www.conceptualphysics.com/21-30.html
• http://www.conceptualphysics.com/31-40.html
• http://www.conceptualphysics.com/41-50.html