Experiment 102

Friction

Name _________________________________________________
Course/Year ___________ Student No: ____________________
Subject/Section ___________ Group No._____ Seat No. _____
Date of Performance ____________________________________
Date of Submission _____________________________________
Grading Rubrics SCORE
Analysis (20 points)
Conclusion (20 points)
Data Sheet (5 points)
Safe Assign (10 points)
Presentation (5 points)
Group Report (40 points)

TOTAL

_________________________________
Instructor

EXPERIMENT NO. 102 FRICTION

INTRODUCTION

Any object that moves, in one way or another, experiences an opposing force either from air or from another
body in contact. This force tends to retard the motion of the body.

The force that opposes the motion of a body is known as friction. Frictional forces can either appear in static or
kinetic conditions. Under static condition, frictional resistance or static friction is greater to the point where the body is
about to start its motion. Once the body moves, a lesser amount of resistance, kinetic friction, takes place.

The presence of friction between contact surfaces generates sound, light, and heat energy. It is also referred to
as the retarding force or even drag force in the form of air resistance.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the coefficient of friction ( μ ) between different surfaces in contact as one body moves against the
other with uniform motion.
2. To establish the relationship between the angle of repose ( θ ) and μ .

MATERIALS

1.5 m string
1 pc meter stick
1 pc mass hanger
1 pc block (with different surfaces)
1 pc digital balance
1 pc dynamics track with pulley
1 set weights

THEORY
Frictional force is found to be directly proportional to the normal force (N) which is mathematically expressed
as:

f α N
f =k N (eqn. 1)

The coefficient of friction (µ) takes the place of k which is the constant of proportionality. Thus:

f =μ N (eqn.2)

Angle of Repose or Limiting Angle, θ

If the body slides down the incline due to its own weight, the angle between the horizontal and the incline
is called angle of repose.
7. Plot
W
along the x–axis and p along the y-axis. Get the slope of the line.
8. Repeat steps 1 to 7 but use the narrow side of the block for the 5 trials.

Part B. Determination of the Angle of Repose.

1. Remove the string that is tied to the block then place the block, facing its wider side, to the center of the
track’s surface.
2. Gradually incline the plane until such time that you observe it slide down the plane with uniform motion.
See setup and refer to figure 3.
3. Measure and record the vertical height (h) and horizontal base (b). Compute the angle of repose using tan 
= h / b.
4. Compare tan  and the average value of μ you obtained in Part A.

SET UP

Part A. Determination of the Coefficient of Friction.

Figure 2

Part B. Determination of the Angle of Repose.

Figure 3

GRAPH (Table 1a or Table 1b)

4
 total weight of the pan Wp (g)

total weight of the block Wb (g)

GUIDE QUESTIONS (For Group Report)

1. Does the area of contact affect the coefficient of friction? Defend your answer.

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 EXPERIMENT NO. 102 : FRICTION

Name Group No.

Course/Year Seat No.
Subject/Section Date

PART A. Determination of the Coefficient of Friction

TABLE 1a. (large side of the block) TABLE 1b. (narrow side of the block)
(total weight of (total weight of Coefficient of (total weight of (total weight of Coefficient of
the block) the pan) friction the block) the pan) friction
Wb Wp  Wb Wp 
g g g g
g g g g
g g g g
g g g g
g g g g

Average Coefficient of Friction  = Average Coefficient of Friction  =

PART B. Determination of the Angle of Repose

TABLE 2.
Vertical height Horizontal distance
h b tan θ θ
cm cm o

Approved by:

Instructor Date