Friction is the contact resistance exerted by one body when the second body moves or tends to move

past the first body. Friction is a retarding force that always acts opposite to the motion or to the
tendency to move.

Types of Friction
Dry Friction
Dry friction, also called Coulomb friction, occurs when unlubricated surfaces of two solids are in
contact and slide or tend to slide from each other. If lubricant separates these two surfaces, the
friction created is called lubricated friction. This section will deal only with dry friction.

Fluid Friction
Fluid friction occurs when layers of two viscous fluids moves at different velocities. The relative
velocity between layers causes frictional forces between fluid elements, thus, no fluid friction occurs
when there is no relative velocity.

Elements of Dry Friction

N = Total reaction perpendicular to the contact surface
f= Friction force
μ = Coefficient of friction
R = Resultant of f and N
ϕ = angle of friction
Formulas for dry friction
f=μN
tanϕ=f/N
tanϕ=μ

Consider the block shown to the right that weighs W.

It is placed upon a plane that inclined at an angle θ with the horizontal.
 If ϕ<θ the maximum available friction force f is less than Wx thus, the block will slide down
the plane.
 If ϕ=θ the friction force f will just equate to Wx thus, the block is in impending motion down
the plane.
 If ϕ>θ the maximum available frictional resistance f is greater than Wx thus, the block is
stationary.
We can therefore conclude that the maximum angle θ that a plane may be inclined without causing
the body to slide down is equal to the angle of friction ϕ.
1. A 400 N block is resting on a rough horizontal surface for which the coefficient of friction is 0.40.
Determine the force P required to cause motion to impend if applied to the block (a) horizontally or
(b) downward at 30° with the horizontal. (c) What minimum force is required to start motion?

Solution

Part (a) - Force is applied horizontally

ΣFV=0
N=400 N
f=μN=0.40(400)
f=160N
ΣFH=0
P=f
P=160 N answer

Part (b) - Downward force at 30° from the

horizontal
ΣFV=0
N=400+Psin300
N=400+0.5P
f=μN=0.40(400+0.5P)
f=160+0.2P
ΣFH=0
Pcos300=f
Pcos300=160+0.2P
0.666P=1600
P=240.23 N answer

Another Solution for

Part (b)
tanϕ=μ
tanϕ=0.40
ϕ=21.800
θ=900−(300+ϕ)
θ=900−(300+21.800)
θ=38.200
Psinϕ=400sinθ
Psin21.800=400sin38.200
P=240.21N

Part (c) - Minimum force required to cause impending motion

ΣFV=0
N=400−Psinα
f=μN=0.40(400−Psinα)

f=160−0.40Psinα
ΣFH=0
Pcosα=f
Pcosα=160−0.40Psinα
Pcosα+0.40Psinα=160
(cosα+0.40sinα)P=160
P=160cosα+0.40sinα
To minimize P, differentiate then equate to zero
dp/dα=−160(−sinα+0.40cosα)/ (cosα+0.40sinα)2=0
sinα−0.40cosα=0
sinα=0.40cosα
tanα=0.40
α=21.800
Minimum value of P
Pmin=160cos21.800+0.40sin21.800⁡
Pmin=148.56 N answer

2. The 2225-N block shown in Fig. is in contact with 45° incline. The coefficient of static friction is
0.25. Compute the value of the horizontal force P necessary to (a) just start the block up the incline or
(b) just prevent motion down the incline. (c) If P = 1780 N, what is the amount and direction of the
 friction force?

Part (a) – Force P to just start the block to move up the incline
The force P is pushing the block up the incline. The push is hard enough to overcome the maximum
allowable friction causing an impending upward motion.

ΣFy=0
N=2225cos450+Psin450
N=1573.31+0.7071P
f=μN=0.25(1573.31+0.7071P)
f=393.33+0.1768P
ΣFx=0
Pcos450=f+2225sin450
Pcos450=(393.33+0.1768P)+2225sin450
0.5303P=1966.64
P=3708.55 N answer

Part (b) – Force P to just prevent the block to slide down the incline
In this case, the force P is not pushing the block upward, it simply supports the block not to slide
downward. Therefore, the total force that prevents the block from sliding down the plane is the sum of
the component of P parallel to the incline and the upward friction force.

ΣFy=0
N=2225cos450+Psin450
N=1573.31+0.7071P
f=μN=0.25(1573.31+0.7071P)
f=393.33+0.1768P

ΣFx=0
Pcos450+f=2225sin450
Pcos450+(393.33+0.1768P)=2225sin450
0.8839P=1179.98
P=1335 N answer

Part (c) – Force P = 1780 N

If Px = Wx, there will be no friction under the block. If Px > Wx, friction is going downward to
help Wx balance the Px. If Px < Wx, friction is going upward to help Px balance the Wx. In this problem,
the maximum available friction is not utilized by the system.
Wx=2225sin450=1573.31 N
Px=1780cos450=1258.65 N

Wx > Px, thus, f is upward.

ΣFx=0
f+Px=Wx
f+1258.65=1573.31
f=314.66 N upward answer

3. Block A in Fig. weighs 120 N, block B weighs 200 N, and the cord is parallel to the incline. If the
coefficient of friction for all surfaces in contact is 0.25, determine the angle θ of the incline of which
motion of B impends.

N1=120cosθ
f1=0.25(120cosθ)=30 cosθ
N2=N1+200cosθ
N2=120cosθ+200cosθ
N2=320cosθ
f2=0.25(320cosθ)=80cosθ
f1+f2=200sinθ
30cosθ+80cosθ=200sinθ
110cosθ=200sinθ
tanθ=11/20
θ=28.810 answer
Determine the force P required to start the wedge shown in Fig. The angle of friction for all surfaces in
contact is 15°.

Solution :

From the FBD of the block to the right

ΣFV=0 ; R1cos150=R2sin150+200
R1=0.2679R2+207.06
ΣFH=0 ; R2cos150=R1sin150+50
R2cos150=(0.2679R2+207.06)sin150+50
0.8966R2=103.59 ; R2=115.54 kN

From the FBD of the wedge to the left

ΣFH=0 ; R3cos30 =R2cos150
0

R3cos300=115.54cos150
R3=128.87 kN
ΣFV=0; P=R2sin150+R3sin300
P=115.54sin150+128.87sin300
P=94.34 kN answer

What force P must be applied to the wedges shown in Fig. to start them under the block?
The angle of friction for all contact surfaces is 10°.
Solution: From the FBD of 1000 N block
ΣFV=0
2(R1cos250)=1000
R1=551.69 N

From the FBD of any of the wedges

ΣFV=0
R2cos100=R1cos250
R2cos100=551.69cos250
R2=507.71N

ΣFH=0
P=R1sin250+R2sin100
P=551.69sin250+507.71sin100
P=321.32 N answer
The block A in Fig. supports a load W and is to be raised by forcing the wedge B under it. If the angle
of friction is 10° at all surfaces in contact, determine the maximum wedge angle α that will give the
wedge a mechanical advantage; i.e., make P less than the weight W of the block.

β =1800−1000−(100+α)
β=700−α
R2/ sin1000=W/ sinβ
R2/ sin1000=W/ sin(700−α)
R2=Wsin1000 / sin(700−α)

θ=1800−800−(800−α) ; θ=200+α
R2 / sin800=P/ sinθ; R2=Psin800 / sinθ ( Assume P=W)
Wsin100 / sin(70 −α)=Wsin80 / sin(20 +α)
0 0 0 0

sin1000 / sin(700−α)=sin800 / sin(200+α)

sin1000 sin(200+α)=sin800 sin(700−α)
sin1000(sin200cosα+cos200sinα)=sin800 (sin700cosα−cos700sinα)
sin1000sin200cosα+sin1000cos200sinα=sin800sin700cosα−sin800cos700sinα
sin1000cos200sinα+sin800cos700sinα=sin800sin700cosα−sin1000sin200cosα
(sin1000cos200+sin800cos700)sinα=(sin800sin700−sin1000sin200)cosα
Sinα/Cosα= (sin800sin700−sin1000sin200) / (sin1000cos200+sin800cos700)
tanα= (sin800sin700−sin1000sin200) / (sin1000cos200+sin800cos700)
tanα=0.4663076582
α=250 answer
A uniform ladder 4.8 m long and weighing W N is placed with one end on the ground and the other
against a vertical wall. The angle of friction at all contact surfaces is 20°. Find the minimum value of
the angle θ at which the ladder can be inclined with the horizontal before slipping occurs.

Coefficient of friction
μ=tanϕ=tan200
μ=0.364

Friction forces at each end of the ladder

fA=μNA=0.364NA
fB=μNB=0.364NB

ΣFH=0
NB=fA
NB=0.364NA
ΣFV=0
NA+fB=W
NA+0.364NB=W
NA+0.364(0.364NA)=W
1.1325NA=W
NA=0.883W
Thus,
fA=0.364(0.883W)
fA=0.3214W

ΣMB=0
W(2.4cosθ)+fA(4.8sinθ)=NA(4.8cosθ)
Wcosθ+2fAsinθ=2NAcosθ
W+2fAtanθ=2NA
W+2(0.3214W)tanθ=2(0.883W)
1+0.6428tanθ=1.766
0.6428tanθ=0.766
tanθ=1.191 661
θ=500 answer
A ladder 6 m long has a mass of 18 kg and its center of gravity is 2.4 m from the bottom. The ladder is
placed against a vertical wall so that it makes an angle of 60° with the ground. How far up the ladder
can a 72-kg man climb before the ladder is on the verge of slipping? The angle of friction at all contact
surfaces is 15°.

Coefficient of friction
μ=tanϕ
μ=tan150

Amount of friction at contact surfaces

fA=μNA=NAtan150
fB=μNB=NBtan150

ΣFV=0 ; NA+fB=18+72 ; NA=90−Fb

NA=90−NBtan15 0

ΣFH=0 ; fA=NB
NAtan150=NB
(90−NBtan150) tan150=NB ; 90tan150−NB tan2150=NB
90tan150=NB+NB tan2150 ;
NB(1+tan2150)=90tan150
NB=(90tan150) / (1+tan2150)
NB=22.5 kg; fB=22.5tan150
fB=6.03 kg

ΣMA=0 ; NB(6sin600)+fB(6cos600)=18(2.4cos600)+72(xcos600)
NB(6tan600)+6fB=18(2.4)+72x ; 6(22.5)tan600+6(6.03)=43.2+72x
72x=226.8172 ; x=3.15 m answer