SCIENCE CHAPTER FRICTION

MIND
MAP

Advantages
Prevents from slipping
Stops a moving vehicle Definition Disadvantages
Enables us to walk Type of force that opposes the motion of anWear and tear of objects
object
Heat is generated
wastage of energy

FRICTION

Ways to increase
friction
increasing the roughness of surface
in contact Types Ways to reduce friction
Static friction Smoothening the surface in contact
changing the shape of object
Sliding friction Applying oil, grease or wax
increasing the weight of object
Rolling friction Using ball bearings, wheels, air cushion
Static friction > sliding friction

>rolling friction
EXPLANATION

Friction: When one surface moves over another surface, a force comes into play and
opposes their relative motion. This force is called friction or force of friction.

 Friction always opposes motion because it acts in the opposite direction to motion.
 Force of friction arises due to contact between the two surfaces. If there is no
contact between the two surfaces, there would be no friction.
 All types of surface like solid, liquid and air offer the force of friction.

Example:
(a) A moving wheel on the ground stops after covering a certain distance because
surface of ground offers friction in the opposite direction of motion.

(b) Gently push a ball on a table. It stops after moving for some distance because
of friction between the surfaces of ball and table.

Factors Affecting Friction:

Nature of surfaces in contact : Friction is created because of irregularities on the surfaces. The
irregularities on surfaces result in interlocking of the two surfaces. The interlocking between
two surfaces creates friction. Hence, the force of friction will be greater in case of rough surface
than in case of smooth surface.

Surface irregularities
Pressure Between two Surfaces: The force of friction increases with increase in pressure
between the two surfaces. Moving a heavy box is difficult as compared to moving a light box.
Pressure is higher in case of a heavy box. Irregularities between surfaces get interlocked
tightly because of pressure, and the surface offers more friction.

Static Friction: the friction that experience a body when they are resting on surface.
The friction experienced when individuals try to move a stationary object on a surface, without actually
triggering any relative motion between the body and the surface which it is on.

Sliding Friction/Dynamic friction: sliding friction is a friction that acts on an object when
they are sliding over a surface. Sliding friction is always lesser than the static friction. Due to
this, it is easier to push a moving box compared to pushing a box at rest.
Rolling Friction: When an object rolls over the surface of another object, the resistance to
its motion is called rolling friction. Rolling friction is lesser than sliding friction.
OR
The friction experience by a body when it is made to move over bodies like roller or a wheel.

Limiting Friction: The maximum static force of friction comes into play, when one body
just slides upon another body.

Laws of limiting friction:

Limiting friction always opposes the motion of a body.

Limiting friction depends upon the nature of surfaces comes in contact with each other.

Limiting friction increases with increase the weight of an object.

Why is dynamic /sliding friction lesser than the limiting friction.

Initially it requires more force to break the interlock between the irregularities of two surfaces. But once
The block is in motion, it takes time to interlock between the irregularities of two surfaces. Also, the
body gains the inertia of motion. So, the kinetic friction/ dynamic /sliding friction is less than the limiting
friction.

Q Fill in the blanks .

Opposite--- Static--- Movement---Sliding--- Streamlined

Q True false

True—False--- False--- True--- True

Friction: A Necessary Evil
Friction is a necessary evil because it has both beneficial and harmful effects.

Advantages of Friction

 It is not possible to walk on the road in the absence of friction. Walking on ice is
almost impossible because of lack of friction.
 Friction is necessary to keep a ladder against a wall. The ladder will not find grip
against the wall in the absence of friction.
 Soles of shoes have grooves on them. Grooved soles give more friction to the
ground which gives better grip when we walk. Shoes with worn out soles can be
slippery.
 The tyres of vehicles have treads for better grip over road. It provides friction to the
surface of road. When treads are worn out, the tyres need to be replaced with new
one.
 Writing with pen is possible because paper provides friction to the tip of pen.

Disadvantages of Friction

 It results in wear and tear of shoes and tyres, machine parts, clothes, etc.
 When a machine is operated, heat is generated by friction, which results in wastage
of energy. Moreover, a significant amount of energy is wasted in overcoming
friction.

Ways to Increase Friction:

 Treaded tyres of vehicle increase friction. Vehicle with treaded tyres provide
more friction which gives better grip with the road.
 Soles of shoes are treaded to increase friction between sole and the ground. This helps
in providing better grip on surface while walking.
 Javelin thrower rubs some powder on his palm to get better grip on the javelin.
 Kabaddi players rub their hands with soil for a better grip of their opponents.
 Rubber grips are put on bicycle handles, electrical tools and on many other
tools. Increased friction helps in giving better grip on these objects.
 A surface can be made rough with the help of sand paper in order to increase friction.
 Holding a bottle cap with a thick towel helps in increasing friction. Increased
friction makes it easier to open the bottle cap.

Reduction of friction:
In Some situations, friction is undesirable. We need to reduce it.
Ways to Reduce Friction

 In the engines of vehicles, use of lubricants increase the efficiency as parts are
not rubbed directly with each other because of thin layer of lubricant.
 In many machines, graphite powder, oil, grease are used as lubricant for
reducing friction.
 Few drops of oil are poured on the hinges of a door for reducing friction, the door
moves smoothly.
 While playing carrom, sprinkle fine powder over it to reduce friction.
 Some machines use air cushion for reducing friction because use of oil is not ideal
in such machines.
 Ball bearing converts sliding friction into rolling friction. Rolling friction is less
than sliding friction. Thus, ball bearing helps in reducing friction.

Fluid Friction:
Gases and liquids are generally known as fluids. Similar to solids, fluids also provide friction.
 The frictional force offered by fluids is called drag.
 The frictional force on an object in a fluid depends on:
 Speed of object with respect to the fluid
 Shape of object
 Nature of fluid
 Objects which are made to move in fluids are made streamlined shape to reduce
friction offered by fluid.
 Birds and fishes are naturally endowed with streamlined body. Boats and airplanes
are also made streamlined so that they can easily move through air or water.
 A shape which is pointed on both ends and wide at the middle is called streamlined
shape which facilitates easier movement through fluids.