PHY101A

Home Assignment-2
Name: Divakar Gupta
Roll No: 200342

Aim

1st surface 2nd surface θmax (deg) μs

Plastic 27.30 0.52

Cardboard
Paper 19.13 0.35

To estimate the coefficient of friction between two surfaces by sliding one over
the other (forming an inclined plane) and measuring the acceleration of the
moving object.

Materials required
1. Smartphone with “phyphox” app installed (“Acceleration with 𝑔𝑔”).
2. An incline surface.

Formulas
• Acceleration = g (sinθ - μs cosθ)
• coefficient of friction (μs) = tanθmax (θmax is the angle beyond
which slipping occur)

Observation
 1st surface 2nd μs θ Acceleration Acceleration
surface (deg) (m/s2) (m/s2)
(calculated)
(theoretical)
0.52 30 0.40 0.48

0.52 40 2.47- 2.40

Cardboard Paper 0.52 50 4.32 4.23

0.52 60 5.81 5.94

0.52 70 7.62 7.47

Analysis
• As angle of inclination increases acceleration increases.
• Calculated and theoretical value of acceleration differs because of
involvement of kinetic friction.

Precaution
1. Phone should be handled carefully.

Errors
1. There can be error while measuring the angle of inclination.
2. There can be technical error while measuring values using phone.
3. Inclined surface is not perfectly straight.