Friction Force

Virtual Laboratory
All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this part of the module, you will explore the Force and Motion Simulator
Interactive to determine how the friction force affects the speed of an object.

Learning Objectives:

1. To observe the motion of an object.

2. To determine how the friction force affects the motion of an object

Materials:

Simulation Title: Forces and Motion: Basics

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-motion-
basics_en.html

Procedure:

1. Once the program is loaded, select the friction tab and familiarize yourself with
the components of the simulation.

Forces and Motion Tab

Friction Slider

Reset

Applied Force Selector

Objects Objects

2. Check all the boxes on Forces and Motion Tab except for speed.
 3. Explore the Forces and Motion Simulator Interactive by completing the table and
answering the guide questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Complete the table below:

1. Place the given objects on the ground by dragging them one a time.
2. Allow the pusher to move the objects by applying a certain amount of force. Click
on the applied force selector to slowly increase the applied force until the object
moves.
3. Observe then complete the table.

Object Mass Applied Frictional Net force (N)

Force (N) Force (N) + direction
(kg)
One crate 50 kg 126 N 94 N 32 N,
rightward
Man 80 kg 201 N 150 N 51 N,
rightward
Trash can 100 kg 251 N 188 N 63 N,
rightward
Refrigerator 200 kg 500 N 500 N 0 N,
rightward
A refrigerator and 250 kg 500 N 500 N 0 N,
one crate rightward

B. Guide Questions:

1. What type of friction must be overcome to set the object in motion? When does
an object begin to move?
 Before: There is no movement observed from the object

After: The object has begun to move

Answer to Guide Question1:

In order for the object to move, it must first be able to overcome static friction. An
object will only experience motion when the value of the applied force surpasses the
maximum
3. Wht willforce brought
happen by object
to the static friction. In theisexample
when there above,
too much the of
amount object was only
friction?
observed to have begun moving upon applying a force of 126 N which likely means
that at that point the applied force was greater than the maximum frictional force.

2. Once the object starts to move, what type of friction acts between the ground and the
object? Why is it harder to set object in motion than to keep it moving?

Answer to Guide Question 2:

The moment the object is set in motion, static friction gives way to kinetic friction; the
frictional force that occurs between the object and the ground while the object is
moving.
1. From
Wht will the experiment,
happen to the objectit iswhen
harder to make
there is too an object
much start of
amount moving than to
friction?
maintain its movement because there is a significant difference between static and
kinetic friction. When kinetic motion is taking place, the frictional force that is acting
upon the object always remains the same despite how small or how large the force
that is being applied, and its magnitude is always lesser than that of the maximum
frictional force in static friction that is needed to surpass in order to get the object
going.
CONCLUSION

How does friction affect the motion of an object?

To conclude the experiment, friction is a resistant force that opposes the motion of an
object when there is contact between its own and another object’s surface or its
environment, and it varies depending on the materials that are in contact with one
another. Friction can be classified into two types: static friction and kinetic friction. Given
the terms itself, static friction refers to the friction that is experienced when the object is
motionless or before it is moving, while kinetic friction concerns the friction that is
encountered while the object is in motion. Because kinetic friction is only present when
the object is moving, it can never precede static friction, but before an object sets in
motion its applied force must first overcome static friction, which is the main reason why
it is much more difficult to get an object to move than to keep an object moving. While
the force of kinetic friction is always constant regardless of the amount of force that is
applied, the force of static friction increases as the amount of applied force increases
until the friction force is no longer able to oppose the force being applied because it has
exceeded the static friction’s maximum capacity to resist. In a simpler sense, this means
that static friction is essentially greater than kinetic friction in magnitude, which means
more force or effort is needed to overcome static friction. In situations where we attempt
to move or rearrange objects around us, there are times when we are only able to move
particular objects into their designated places when we are being helped by people who
are stronger than us to be able to counter static friction, and there are also moments
when we find it easier to move objects on specific surfaces because there is less
friction. Overall, friction has contributed in both ways, convenient and inconvenient for
us.

Reference:

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-motion-basics_en.html