Objective

 To determine the coefficient of static friction of objects with different masses by

releasing them from an inclined plane.
 To determine the coefficient of kinetic friction of objects with different masses by
releasing them from an inclined plane.
 To measure the horizontal distance(x) as the block starts to move.
Material
 Inclined plane
 0.4kg bar
 0.8kg bar
 1.2kg bar
 Tape measure

Theory
When a block of mass (m) is released from an inclined plane at an angle(α) it will have a
frictional force due to the roughness of the surfaces touching each other. This frictional force can
be classified into two types, static and kinetic friction. The static friction is the frictional force we
get when the object is at rest or on the verge of motion

It can be calculated by the formula

f ( s )=µ ( s ) N
N= normal force which is equal to the weight of the object
Therefore f ( s )=µ ( s ) mg cosα
Kinetic friction is the friction we get when the object is in constant motion and can be calculated
by the formula
f ( k )=µ ( k ) mgcosα
 µ(k) and µ(s) are the coefficient of kinetic and static friction respectively
μ
α is the angle between the table and the inclined plane s=
F f (max ) mg sinθmax
= =tanθmax
FN mgcosθ max
 Data table

Vertical distance(y)= 0.11m

Mass (kg) x-Trial 1 x-Trial 2 x-Trial 3
0.4kg 0.150m 0.160m 0.153m
0.8kg 0.181m 0.187m 0.182m
1.2kg 0.181m 0.200m 0.190m
Static friction
Vertical distance(y)= 0.11m
Mass(kg) x-Trial 1 x-Trial 2 x-Trial 3

0.4kg 0.350m 0.360m 0.370m

0.8kg 0.430m 0.416m 0.436m

1.2kg 0.350m 0.330m 0.370m

Kinetic friction

Result
y
The coefficient of friction can be calculated by the formula α=
x
Y=the vertical distance of the inclined plane
X=the horizontal distance of the inclined plane
For x we will take the average of the measured values.

Static friction
(For mass 0.4kg) x average= 0.15+0.16+0.153/3= 0.154m
(For mass 0.8kg) x average= 0.181+0.187+0.182/3= 0.183m
(For mass 1.2kg) x average= 0.181+0.20+0.19/3= 0.19m
Y = 0.11m
y
µ(s)0.4kg = = 0.11/0.154= 0.71
x
y
µ(s)0.8kg = = 0.11/0.183= 0.60
x
 y
µ(s)1.2kg = = 0.11/0.19= 0.58
x

Kinetic friction
(For mass 0.4kg) x average= 0.36+0.37+0.35/3= 0.36m
(For mass 0.8kg) x average= 0.43+0.416+0.436/3= 0.427m
(For mass 1.2kg) x average= 0.35+0.33+0.37/3= 0.35m
Y = 0.11m

y
µ(k)0.4kg = = 0.11/0.36= 0.3
x
y
µ(k)0.8kg = = 0.11/0.42= 0.26
x
y
µ(k)1.2kg = = 0.11/0.35= 0.31
x

Analysis

Mass Coefficient of static friction Coefficient of kinetic friction

0.4kg 0.71 0.3

0.8kg 0.60 0.26

1.2kg 0.58 0.31

Conclusion
From the above experiment we can see that the coefficient of friction does not depend on the
mass of the object. It depends on the vertical and horizontal distance of the inclined plane. From
the result we have obtained that it is clear that an object needs more force to start moving from
rest than to keep the uniformity of its motion. Meaning that coefficient of static friction will
always be larger than the coefficient of kinetic friction.
 During this experiment some errors have occurred. One of the errors that occurred is random
error during measurement. Another error is a systematic error occurring due to neglecting air
resistance and collision. One of the factors that can affect the measurement is the reaction time of
the individual.