Lab #4 – FRICTION ON AN INCLINED PLANE

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this experiment was to determine the coefficient of friction between a slider and
plane and determine the force necessary to move a body up an inclined plane with the theoretical
value calculated using the value of the coefficient of friction found.

THEORY
Friction is a resistive force that affects the motion of one object against another. Kinetic friction
is the force that acts between moving surfaces. Friction moves parallel to the plane that the
object is sliding across and opposite in direction of the motion. An important factor of friction is
the nature of the material of the objects in contact. The area of contact between the surfaces of
the objects is independent to the coefficient of friction.

The maximum of limiting friction forces between two surfaces is given by the equation: 𝐹 = 𝜇𝑁
------ Eq. (1)

Where N – Normal reaction between the contacting surface 𝜇 – Coefficient of friction for a
horizontal surface.

𝐴𝑡 𝑡h𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐹 = 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁 = 𝑊 ∴ 𝑃 = 𝜇𝑊 → 𝜇 = 𝑊𝑃 ------ Eq. (2)

where P – Effort needed to overcome friction 𝑊 – Load for an inclined plane.

𝛴𝐹𝑦 =𝑁−𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 → 𝑁=𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝛴𝐹𝑥 =𝑃−𝐹−𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃=0 → 𝑃=𝜇𝑁+𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡h𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒: 𝑃𝑖 = 𝑊(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝜇𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) ------ Eq. (3)

APPARATUS
 Friction plane with protractor and pulley
 Wooden/metal slider
 Digital protractor, triple beam
 Balance (or electrical balance)
 Weights, weight hanger, cord
PROCEDURE
Part A

 The slider on the beam balance was weighed and the result recorded.
 The slider was place on the horizontal plane and starting position was marked.
 Weights were continually added on to the load hanger until the slider just begins to move.
 Another weight was added to the slider and the procedure repeated.
 Four sets of readings were taken and a graph of effort (P) against load (W) was plotted
and the gradient of this graph was used to produce the coefficient of friction (𝜇).

Part B

 Using a similar procedure, readings of load (W) and effort (P) with the plane inclined at
10°, 15° and at 20° were taken.
 Three sets of readings were taken at each angle.
 RESULTS
Weight of the slider = 1.29N

Weight of load hanger = 0.22N

Contacting Surfaces = Wood & Metal

Coefficient of Static Friction, μ (from graph) = 4.46

Angle of Actual Load, Actual Effort, Ideal Effort, 𝑷𝒊 Normal, N

Inclination, 𝜽 (°) W (N) P (N) (N) (N)
1.29 0.62 0.62 1.29
0° 1.79 0.92 0.92 1.79
2.79 1.02 1.02 2.79
3.29 1.22 1.22 3.29
1.79 1.22 8.54 1.76
10° 2.79 1.72 13.31 2.74
3.29 2.22 15.71 3.24
1.79 1.32 12.81 1.73
15° 2.79 1.82 19.97 2.69
3.29 2.42 23.55 3.18
1.79 1.62 17.08 1.68
20° 2.79 2.22 26.62 2.62
3.29 2.72 31.40 3.09
CALCULATIONS

𝜇 = ∆Y/∆X

= (1.3-0.45)/(3.05-1.2)

=0.85/1.85

=0.45

𝑃𝑖 = 𝑊(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝜇𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

=1.79N(sin10˚+0.46cos10˚)

=8.54

𝑁=𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

=Wco𝑠𝜃

=1.79 cos (10˚)

 =1.760N

DISSCUSION.

The graph demonstrated has a consistent progress as effort relates to load. Effort showed to be
proportional to load. Therefore, an increase in load saw an increase in effort and vice versa.

The theoretical values of effort are close to the experimental values and varied in the same way
with increases in the angle and Load. The value of effort increased steadily whenever there was
an increase in the angle or Load. The quality of the material the block and apparatus were made
of, as well as the measuring tools, are where the inaccuracies are, according to the studies
conducted in this lab.

A more practical application of this would be to evaluate the effort used to move a car up a hill,
showing that it would require more effort based on the weight of the car and the incline of the
hill.
RAW DATA SHEET