PHYSICS 149: Lecture 6

• Chapter 2

– 2.7 Contact Forces: Normal Force and Friction

– 2.8 Tension

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 1

 ILQ 1
If the distance to the moon were halved, then the
force of attraction between the earth and moon
would be:

A) quartered (.25 x)
B) halved ((.5
5 x)
C) doubled (2 x)
D) quadrupled (4 x)

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 2

 Normal (= Perpendicular) Force
• The normal force is a contact force
perpendicular to the contact surfaces that
prevents two objects from passing through one
another.
• Normal force is a vector
vector.
– Direction: always perpendicular to the “contact
surface” ((rather than the horizon))
– Magnitude: depends on the weight of the object
(see different cases on next pages)

• Type: contact force (not long-range force)

• Normal force is usually denoted by N.
N
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 3
 Normal Force
• Symbol for FBD: N
• Type: Contact force
• Direction is normal (perpendicular) to surface
• Thi is
This i the
th normall componentt for
f the
th contact
t t
force between two (planar) surfaces

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 4

 What Causes Normal Force?
• Atoms inside solid objects are
inter-connected
inter connected by molecular
bonds which act like springs.
• When yyou place
p an object
j on top
p
of a table, the table deforms
slightly. This bend is usually not
visible to the eye.
• The "springs" holding the atoms
i th
in the ttable
bl compress or stretch
t t h
exerting a force on the object on
the table
table.

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 5

 Normal Force: Case 1
• If the table’s surface (contact surface) is
horizontal,
horizontal
– Direction of the normal force is perpendicular to the
“contact surface.” In this case, vertically upward.
– Magnitude of the normal force is
the book’s weight, according to
Newton’s First Law of Motion.

N = W (= mg)
according to
ΣFy = 0 for an object in equilibrium

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 6

 Normal Force: Case 2
• If the contact surface is horizontal and there is
another vertical force acting on the book
book,
– Direction of the normal force is perpendicular to the
“contact surface.” In this case, vertically upward.
– Magnitude of the normal force is
the book’s weight plus the magnitude
of the additional force, according to
Newton’s First Law of Motion.

N = W (= mg) + F
according to
ΣFy = 0 for an object in equilibrium
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 7
 Normal Force: Case 3
• If the contact surface is not horizontal (with an
inclination angle θ),
θ)
– Direction of the normal force is perpendicular to the
“contact surface.” In this case, it is not vertical.
– Magnitude of the normal force is
+y
the book’s weight times cosθ,
according to Newton’s
First Law of Motion.
θ
N = W cosθ (= ( mg cosθ) +x W θ
Wcosθ
according to
ΣFy = 0 for an object in equilibrium Wsinθ
θ
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 8
 ILQ 2
A box sitting on a table experiences a normal force
N If you push down on the box
N. box, the normal force

A) increases.
increases
B) stays the same.
C) decreases.
decreases

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 9

 ILQ 3
A box of mass m sits on an inclined plane. What is
the relationship between the weight of the box
box, W,
W
and the magnitude of the normal force exerted on
the box,, N?

A)) W>N
B) W=N
C) W<N
D) can't tell

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 10

 ILQ: Net Force
• Compare the net force on the two books.
A) Fphysics > Fbiology B) Fphysics = Fbiology C) Fphysics < Fbiology

Net force is zero on both books! Normal force from

table exactlyy cancels downward forces.

Physics Biology

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 11

 ILQ: Normal Force
Consider a horse pulling a buggy. Is the
g statement true? The weight
following g of the
horse and the normal force exerted by the
ground on the horse constitute an interaction
g
pair that are always equal and opposite
according g to Newton's third law.
A) yes
B) no The normall fforce iis nott an
Th
action-reaction force pair
of an object
object's
s weight

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 12

 G G G G G G G
N +W = 0 N +W + F = 0
N +W = 0
In y : N − W = 0 In y : N − W − F = 0
i θ =0
I y : N − W sin
In
N =W N =W + F
N = W sin θ

Wcos θ
θ
Wsin θ
x

Σ Fx=00
Equilibrium Σ F=0
Σ Fy=0
 Components of Weight

α+β=90
α+β=90°
=Wx
Thus,
Thus
β=ϕ
α+ϕ=90
+ϕ 90° =W
Wy

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 14

 Friction Force
• Symbol for FBD: f
• Type: Contact force
• Direction: Parallel to the surface. f This is the parallel
component of the contact force between two surfaces
g
• Magnitude of frictional force is p proportional
p to the Normal
force
• Static friction
– fstatic ≤ μs N μs coefficient of Static friction
– Direction opposite to sum of other “parallel forces”
• Kinetic friction
– friction fkinetic = μk N μk coefficient of Kinetic friction
– Direction opposes motion
– Smaller
S ll th than static
t ti ffriction
i ti
• Note: Static friction can be any value up to μsN
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 15
 Friction
• Magnitude of frictional force
(
(parallel
ll l tto surfaces)
f ) iis proportional
ti l
to the normal force.
– fkinetic = μk N μk coefficient of kinetic friction
– fstatic ≤ μs N μs coefficient of static friction
• Be Careful!
– Static friction ≤, can be any value up to μsN
– Direction always opposes motion

Lecture 2 Purdue University, Physics 220 16

 Friction
• Friction is a contact force parallel to the contact surface, and
it acts to prevent the objects from slipping on each other.
• There are two types of frictions
frictions.
– Static: the two objects are at rest with respect to each other.
– Kinetic: the two objects are slipping one another.
• Friction is a vector.
– Magnitude is proportional to the magnitude of the normal force.
(Note: it does not depend on the contact area
area.))
– Direction:
• Static: the direction that tends to keep the surfaces from beginning to
slide.
slide
• Kinetic: the direction that would tend to make the sliding stop.
• Type: contact force (not long-range force)
• Magnitude of friction is usually denoted by fs (static) or fk
(kinetic).
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 17
 Magnitude of Friction
• Static Friction
0 ≤ fs ≤ μsN
where μs: coefficient of static friction
– Note that μs is a dimensionless constant while the unit for fs and N
(normal force) is Newton (N).
– An object starts sliding when an applied force is larger than μsN.

• Ki
Kinetic
ti Friction
F i ti
fk = μkN
where μk: coefficient of kinetic friction
– Note that μk is a dimensionless constant while the unit for fk and N
(normal force) is Newton (N).
• For an object on a given surface, μs > μk Î fs,max > fk
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 18
 Friction vs. Applied Force
• At rest, the magnitude of static friction (fs) is equal to the
g
magnitude of an applied
pp force ((Fapp)).
• When an applied force becomes larger than fs,max (= μs N),
an object starts sliding.
• Once the object starts sliding, a smaller force is required
in order to keep the object moving at a constant velocity.
– In other words,, in equilibrium,
q , Fapp has to be fk ((= μkN)) that is less
than fs,max (= μsN) because of μs > μk .

• (d
(during
i sliding)
lidi ) If Fapp > fk, the
th object
bj t will
ill b
be accelerated.
l t d
• (during sliding) If Fapp < fk, the object will stop.

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 19

 ILQ
To make an object start moving on a surface
with friction requires:

A) Less force than to keep it moving on the surface

at a constant velocity
B) The same force as to keep it moving on the
surface at a constant velocity
C) A force equal to the weight of the object
D) More force than to keep it moving on the
surface at a constant velocity

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 20

 Book Pushed Across Table
• Calculate
C l l t fforce off h
hand
d to
t keep
k the
th book
b k sliding
lidi att a constant
t t speed,
d if th
the
mass of the book is 1 kg, μs = .84 and μk=.75.
Constant Speed ⇒ΣF=0
x-direction:
x direction: ΣF
ΣF=0 0
Fhand-Ffriction = 0 Combine:
Fhand=Ffriction Fhand = μk FNormal
Fhand=μk FNormal Fhand=0.75×9.8 N
y-direction: ΣF=0 Fhand=7.3 Νewtons
FNormal-FGravity = 0
Normal
FNormal = FGravity
FNormal =1×9.8=9.8 N friction hand
Physics
y y

x
Gravity
Lecture 2 Purdue University, Physics 220 21
 ILQ
A box of weight 50 N is at rest on a floor where
μs = 0
0.3.
3 A rope is attached to the box and
pulled horizontally with tension T = 30 N. Which
wayy does the box move?

A)) to tthe
e left
et
B) to the right = 30 N,
right
C) the box does not move

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 22

 ILQ
Your car won't start, so you are pushing it. You apply a
horizontal force of 300 N to the car, but it doesn't budge.
Which of these other forces must have a magnitude of
300 N?
(a) the frictional force exerted by the road on the car
(b) the force exerted by the car on you
(c) the frictional force exerted on you by the road

A) (a), (b), and (c)

B) ((a)) and
d ((c)) b
butt nott (b)
C) (a)
D) (b)
E) (c)
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 23
 What Does Cause Friction?
• Friction is caused by atomic or
molecular bonds between the high
points on the surfaces of the two
object.

• These bonds are formed by

microscopic electromagnetic forces
that hold the atoms or molecules
together.
New Bond

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 24

 Classical Friction
• Conjectures of classical friction:
– Friction is proportional to the normal force
– Depends on the nature of the surfaces
– Does not depend on the area of contact
– Friction is independent of velocity

• Friction is much more complicated

– Friction may decrease with roughness and in the other
extreme very smooth surfaces may have enormous
frictional forces (cold welding).

Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 25

 Atomic Friction
• Friction occurs when atoms close to one
surface are set in motion byy the slidingg action
of atoms in the other surface.
• These vibrations (phonons) are sound
waves
a es which
hich get con
converted
erted into heat
heat.
• The amount of mechanical energy (the energy needed to
keep p the object
j moving)
g) converted to p phonons depends
p on
the sliding substance because different solids vibrate at
different frequencies. If one solid has many of the same
frequencies as the other then friction will be high
high.
• Friction can depend on the contact area of the two objects.
Contact area is the area that actually touches the other
object. The more contact area the higher the friction.
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 26
 Example: Inclined Plane
A 1.0 kg block sits on an inclined plane which has an
angle with the horizontal of 25 degrees. What is the force
off static
t ti friction?
f i ti ?
x-component: At rest (right before sliding) Î
W sinθ – fs,max
, = 0 equilibrium Î net force = 0 y
Thus, fs,max = W sinθ N
= mg sinθ f
= 1 kg x 9.8
9 8 m/s2 x sin 25°
25
= 4.14 N
y-component: θ θ
N – W cosθ θ=0
By definition, fs,max = μsN x
W
Thus, μs = fs,max
, /N = (W sinθ) / (W cosθ)
= tanθ
= tan 25° = 0.47
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 27
 Tension
• At any point in the rope (or string
string, cable or chain)
chain), tension is the
pulling force exerted on the rope on one side of the point by the
rope on the other side.

• At its two ends, tension is the pulling force exerted on the object
attached to its ends by the ropes at the ends.

• Note that tension can pull but not push.

=T1
“If” the chain’s weight
•=T4 is not negligible,
negligible
=T2
T1 > T2 > T3 > T4 .

=T
T3
For example,
F l
T1 = T4 + chain’s weight.
Lecture 6 Purdue University, Physics 149 28