School Of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, NUST

ME-115 Engineering Mechanics (Fall 2023)

Name: Muhammad Abdullah Zafar Ghauri CMS:405642

Section: ME-14(C) Group: 02

C-1
Experiment 6: Determine the value of Coefficient of Kinetic Friction of a Blocks
moving down an inclined plane

Objectives:

The purpose of the very experiment is to determine the value of coefficient of friction (kinetic) for
various materials. It is well pertained that the value of coefficient of friction is actually between the
material and the surface of contact. For the very purpose, HFN1 Friction on an Inclined Steel Plane
has been employed. The main goal of the experiment is to successfully determine the values of
coefficient of friction (both for static and kinetic)for following materials:- Nylon Aluminum, Stainless
Steel and Brass.

Apparatus:

HFN1 Friction on an Inclined Steel Plane

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 1. Blocks of different materials (Nylon, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Brass)
2. Cord (For attaching with block and for successful smooth movement over the pulley attached to
instrument)
3. Weighing Balance

Theory:

• Friction:
The force that resists motion when the surface of one object comes in contact with the surface
of another is called friction.
OR
The force that tends to restrict the motion of a body when it comes in contact with the surface is called
friction.
▪ It is well-pertained that frictional force acts on a body in the direction opposite to that of
motion.

Broader image of frictional force and the other forces co-existing with it
Generally, the frictional force is given by the following formula: -
F=μN
Where F is the Frictional force, N is the Normal force which acts opposite to the weight of body and μ
is the coefficient of friction (which can be both static as well as kinetic).

• Types of Friction:
There are two types of frictions: -
1. Static Friction
2. Kinetic Friction

• Static Friction:
The friction experienced when a stationary object on a surface is compelled to move,
without actually causing any relative motion between the body and the surface on which it is placed is called
static friction.
The formula for Static Friction may be written as follows: -
Fs=μSN
Here, μS is called the Coefficient of Static Friction and it bears no unit, for it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

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If the angle of inclination is given, the coefficient of friction (both for static and kinetic friction) can be
calculated by taking the tangent of value of the angle θ and vice versa.

θ=tan(μ)
μ=tan-1(θ)

• Kinetic Friction:
Kinetic friction is defined as a force that acts between moving surfaces is
called Kinetic Friction.
The formula for Kinetic Friction may be written as follows: -
Fk=μkN
Here, μk is called the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction and it bears no unit, for it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

NOTE:
The values of μS and μk are independent of the area of contact of surfaces, while their values are only
dependent to the type of material.
• Merits and Demerits of Friction:
o Merits of Friction:

1. Friction is responsible for the movement of different bodies and surfaces.

2. Responsible for interconversion of energy into different forms
3. Friction helps to produce breaking effect in surfaces, as it basically tends to restrict the motion.
o Demerits of Friction:
1. Friction produces heat which damages the moving parts of a machine.
2. Friction produces wear and tear on the contacting surfaces. This reduces the life of machines,
tires and shoe soles.
3. A lot of energy is wasted due to friction to overcome it before the movement.
Procedure:
1. First of all, let the apparatus be successfully set up. It should be ensured that the surface is
smooth, as the presence of any impurity shall disturb the accuracy of reading.
2. Adjust the apparatus at an angle (preferably 10ͦ or 30ͦ) and lower or increase the value.

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 3. Take a block of material, for whom the coefficients of kinetic friction is to be determined. Tie
a cord to a hole drilled in block and make it move over the frictionless pulley. Add small
weights (preferably 5g to begin with)
4. When the block begins to move and slide off the pulley, It shall yield a force P.
5. Repeat the procedure by incrementing or decrementing the angle of inclination
6. Let the procedure be repeated at least three times for each material and hence the values be
determined.

Schematic Diagram:

Readings and Calculations:

Now, we shall use the equation of motions (forces along the x-axis and the y-axis) to proceed towards
calculation.
∑Fy=0 − − − − − − − − − − −−> N-Wcosθ=0 (i)
∑Fx=0 − − − − − − −−> 𝐏 − 𝐖𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 − 𝛍𝐍 = 𝟎 (ii)
From (ii), we have
N=Wcosθ (iii)
And (ii) can be written as,
𝐏 = 𝐖𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 + 𝛍𝐍
Let (ii) be divided by (iii), such that
𝑃 𝑊𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝛍𝐍
= +
𝑁 𝑁 𝑁
Where we have N=Wcosθ . So,

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 𝑃 𝑊𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝛍𝐍
= +
𝑊𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑊𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑁
Hence,
𝑷
μ=𝑾𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽 − 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜽

• Mass of Nylon=65g
• Mass of Aluminum= 83g
• Mass of Stainless Steel= 242g
• Mass of Brass= 259g

• Weight of Nylon= 0.637N

• Weight of Aluminum= 0.814N
• Weight of Brass= 2.540N
• Weight of Stainless Steel= 2.374N
Nylon
Weight of Nylon= 0.637N
(Where P= Mass Attached to slip the block multiplied by gravitational acceleration)

Angle P (Balancing Force) (N) μk

30ͦ 0.54 0.40
20ͦ 0.49 0.45
10ͦ 0.392 0.44
Mean Value of Kinetic Coefficient of Friction (Nylon)= μk=0.43

Aluminum
Weight of Aluminum= 0.814N
(Where P= Mass Attached to slip the block multiplied by gravitational acceleration)

Angle P (Balancing Force) (N) μk

30ͦ 0.784 0.53
20ͦ 0.588 0.40
10ͦ 0.39 0.31
Mean Value of Kinetic Coefficient of Friction (Aluminum)= μk=0.41

Brass
Weight of Brass= 2.540N
(Where P= Mass Attached to slip the block multiplied by gravitational acceleration)

Angle P (Balancing Force) (N) μk

30ͦ 2.256 0.44
20ͦ 2.0601 0.499
10ͦ 2.011 0.627
Mean Value of Kinetic Coefficient of Friction (Brass)= μk=0.522

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 Stainless Steel
Weight of Brass= 2.374N
(Where P= Mass Attached to slip the block multiplied by gravitational acceleration)

Angle P (Balancing Force) (N) μk

30ͦ 2.011 0.400
20ͦ 1.815 0.449
10ͦ 1.423 0.432
Mean Value of Kinetic Coefficient of Friction (Brass)= μk=0.427

Results and Discussion:

• It is being kept in place that different materials have their own specific value of coefficient of
friction. What we did in our experiment was that we took some sample materials (like Nylon,
Aluminum, Brass and Stainless Steel) and we had them slid over the inclined plane to yield
values of coefficient of friction (both static and kinetic)
• As per the theory discussion, normal force acts on a body in direction opposite to the weight of
body, so we reached to a conclusion that the normal force acting on a body is equivalent to the
weight of body.
• We performed several tests using different materials (as per the calculation tables shown above)
and we observed minute variations in the values (which may seem quite insignificant).
• However, the inclined steel plane was subject to corrosion and wear and tear, hence the values
obtained were observed to be crude at some extent. However, it is an instrumental error and has
nothing to do with personal behest.

Conclusion:

• By the following experiment, it was successfully concluded that the frictional force that acts on
a body being in contact with surface is directly proportional to the normal force acting upon it.
(Where the normal force is opposite in direction to weight of body).
• The value of μ is independent of the normal force acting on the body. Rather it is specific for a
particular body being in contact with some surface.
• The coefficient of friction is actually a unitless quantity, as a matter of fact it is the ratio of two
similar quantities. One may calculate its value by taking inverse tangent of angle upon which
the force of The object remains at rest until the weight component mg sin(θ) exceeds the limiting
friction force (Fs max). After that, the object starts its motion overcoming Fk, which is smaller than the
limiting friction force (Fs max).

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