Chapter 4B.

Friction and
Equilibrium
AA PowerPoint
PowerPoint Presentation
Presentation by
by
Paul
Paul E.
E. Tippens,
Tippens, Professor
Professor of
of Physics
Physics
Southern
Southern Polytechnic
Polytechnic State
State University
University
© 2007
Equilibrium: Until motion
begins, all forces on the mower
are balanced. Friction in wheel
bearings and on the ground
oppose the lateral motion.
Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
•• Define
Define and
and calculate
calculate thethe coefficients
coefficients of
of
kinetic
kinetic and
and static
static friction,
friction, and
and give
give the
the
relationship
relationship of
of friction
friction to
to the
the normal
normal force.
force.
•• Apply
Apply the
the concepts
concepts of
of static
static and
and kinetic
kinetic
friction
friction to
to problems
problems involving
involving constant
constant
motion
motion or or impending
impending motion.
motion.
 Friction Forces
When two surfaces are in contact, friction forces
oppose relative motion or impending motion.
P
Friction forces are parallel to
the surfaces in contact and
oppose motion or impending
motion.

Static Friction: No Kinetic Friction:

relative motion. Relative motion.
motion
 Friction and the Normal Force
8N n 12 N n
4N
n2N 4N 6N

The force required to overcome static or kinetic

friction is proportional to the normal force, n.

= ssn
ffss = n = kkn
ffkk = n
Friction forces are independent of area.

4N 4N

If the total mass pulled is constant, the same

force (4 N) is required to overcome friction
even with twice the area of contact.

For this to be true, it is essential that ALL

other variables be rigidly controlled.
 Friction forces are independent of
temperature, provided no chemical or
structural variations occur.

4N 4N

Heat can sometimes cause surfaces to become

deformed or sticky. In such cases, temperature
can be a factor.
Friction forces are independent of speed.

5 m/s 20 m/s
2 N 2 N

The force of kinetic friction is the same at

5 m/s as it is for 20 m/s. Again, we must
assume that there are no chemical or
mechanical changes due to speed.
 The Static Friction Force
When an attempt is made to move an
object on a surface, static friction slowly
increases to a MAXIMUM value.
value
n
fs
P
f s  s n
W
In this module, when we use the following
equation, we refer only to the maximum
value of static friction and simply write:

= ssn
ffss = n
Constant or Impending Motion
For motion that is impending and for
motion at constant speed, the resultant
force is zero and F = 0. (Equilibrium)
fs P fk P

Rest Constant Speed

P – fs = 0 P – fk = 0

Here the weight and normal forces are

balanced and do not affect motion.
 Friction and Acceleration
When P is greater than the maximum fs
the resultant force produces acceleration.
a This case will be
fk P discussed in a
later chapter.
Constant Speed
fk = kn

Note that the kinetic friction force remains

constant even as the velocity increases.
EXAMPLE 1: If k = 0.3 and s = 0.5,
what horizontal pull P is required to
just start a 250-N block moving?
1. Draw sketch and free-
body diagram as shown.
2. List givens and label
n what is to be found:
fs P
+ k = 0.3; s = 0.5; W = 250 N
W
Find: P = ? to just start

3. Recognize for impending motion: P – fs = 0

EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): s = 0.5, W = 250 N. Find
P to overcome fs (max). Static friction applies.

n For this case: P – fs = 0

fs P 4. To find P we need to
+ know fs , which is:
250 N f s = s n n=?

5. To find n: Fy = 0 n–W=0

W = 250 N n = 250 N
(Continued)
EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): s = 0.5, W = 250 N. Find P
to overcome fs (max). Now we know n = 250 N.
6. Next we find fs from:
n
fs = sn = 0.5 (250 N) P
fs
7. For this case:
case P – fs = 0 +
250 N
P = fs = 0.5 (250 N)
s = 0.5
PP =
= 125
125 NN

This force (125 N) is needed to just start motion.

Next we consider P needed for constant speed.
EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): If k = 0.3 and s = 0.5,
what horizontal pull P is required to move with
constant speed? (Overcoming kinetic friction)
Fy = may = 0

n-W=0 n=W
k = 0.3
n
P Now: fk = kn = kW
fk
+ Fx = 0; P - fk = 0
mg
P = fk = kW

P = (0.3)(250 N) PP =
= 75.0
75.0 NN
The Normal Force and Weight
The normal force is NOT always equal to
the weight. The following are examples:
P
n Here the normal force is
300 less than weight due to
m
upward component of P.
W
P Here the normal force is
n equal to only the compo-
nent of weight perpendi-
W
 cular to the plane.
Review of Free-body Diagrams:
For
For Friction
Friction Problems:
Problems:
•• Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
•• Construct
Construct force
force diagram
diagram for
for each
each object,
object,
vectors
vectors at
at origin
origin of
of x,y
x,y axes.
axes. Choose
Choose xx or
or yy
axis
axis along
along motion
motion oror impending
impending motion.
motion.
•• Dot
Dot in
in rectangles
rectangles and
and label
label xx and
and yy compo-
compo-
nents
nents opposite
opposite and
and adjacent
adjacent to to angles.
angles.
•• Label
Label all
all components;
components; choose
choose positive
positive
direction.
direction.
 For Friction in Equilibrium:
•• Read,
Read, draw
draw and
and label
label problem.
problem.
•• Draw
Draw free-body
free-body diagram
diagram for
for each
each body.
body.
•• Choose
Choose xx oror y-axis
y-axis along
along motion
motion oror impending
impending
motion
motion and
and choose
choose direction
direction of
of motion
motion asas positive.
positive.
•• Identify
Identify the
the normal
normal force
force and
and write
write one
one of
of
following:
following:
ffs s==sn or fk = kn
sn or fk = kn

•• For
For equilibrium,
equilibrium, we
we write
write for
for each
each axis:
axis:
FFxx==00 FFyy==00

•• Solve
Solve for
for unknown
unknown quantities.
quantities.
 Example 2. A force of 60 N drags a 300-N
block by a rope at an angle of 400 above the
horizontal surface. If uk = 0.2, what force P
will produce constant speed?
W = 300 N P=? 1. Draw and label a sketch
n of the problem.
fk 400 2. Draw free-body diagram.
m
P sin 400 Py
P
W n Py
400
The force P is to be Px
replaced by its com- fk P cos 400
ponents Px and Py. W +
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk = 0.2.
P sin 400
3. Find components of P: P
n
Px = P cos 400 = 0.766P 400
fk P cos 400
Py = P sin 400 = 0.643P
mg +
Px = 0.766P; Py = 0.643P
Note: Vertical forces are balanced, and for
constant speed, horizontal forces are balanced.


 0
F
F 
 0
xx 
 0
F
F 
 0
yy
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk = 0.2.
Px = 0.766P
Py = 0.643P 0.643P
P
n
4. Apply Equilibrium con- 400
ditions to vertical axis.
fk 0.766P
F
Fyy =
= 00 300 N +

n + 0.643P – 300 N= 0 [Py and n are up (+)]

n = 300 N – 0.643P; Solve for n in terms of P
nn == 300 0.643PP
300 NN –– 0.643
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk = 0.2.

nn == 300 0.643PP
300 NN –– 0.643
0.643P
P
n
5. Apply Fx = 0 to con- 400

stant horizontal motion. fk 0.766P

F
Fxx = 0.766PP –– ffkk =
= 0.766 = 00 300 N +

fk = k n = (0.2)(300 N - 0.643P)
fk = (0.2)(300 N - 0.643P) = 60 N – 0.129P

0.766P – fk = 0; 0.766PP –– (60

0.766 0.129PP)) =
(60 NN –– 0.129 = 00
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk = 0.2.
0.643P
P 0.766PP –– (60
0.766 0.129PP )=0
(60 NN –– 0.129
n )=0
400
fk 6. Solve for unknown P.
0.766P
300 N 0.766P – 60 N + 0.129P =0
+

0.766P + 0.129P = 60 N If P = 67 N, the

block will be
0.766P + 0.129P = 60 N dragged at a
constant speed.
0.895P = 60 N
P = 67.0 N P = 67.0 N
 Example 3: What push P up the incline is
needed to move a 230-N block up the
incline at constant speed if k = 0.3?
Step 1: Draw free-body P
including forces, angles
W =230 N
and components.

n x 600
y P
Step 2: Fy = 0
fk
W sin 600
W cos 600
n – W cos 600 = 0
600
n = (230 N) cos 600
230 N
nn == 115
115 NN
Example 3 (Cont.): Find P to give
move up the incline (W = 230 N).
600
y n P
x
n = 115 N W = 230 N
fk W cos 600
Step 3. Apply Fx= 0
W sin 600 600 P - fk - W sin 600 = 0
fk = kn = 0.2(115 N)
W
fk = 23 N, P = ?
P - 23 N - (230 N)sin 600 = 0

P - 23 N - 199 N= 0 PP =
= 222
222 NN
Summary: Important Points to Consider
When Solving Friction Problems.

• The maximum force of static friction is

the force required to just start motion.
n
fs
P
f s  s n
W

Equilibrium exists at that instant:

FFxx  0;
0; FFyy  00
Summary: Important Points (Cont.)
• The force of kinetic friction is that force
required to maintain constant motion.
n
fk
P
f k  k n
W

• Equilibrium exists if speed is constant,

but fk does not get larger as the
speed is increased.
FFxx  0;
0; FFyy  00
Summary: Important Points (Cont.)
• Choose an x or y-axis along the direction
of motion or impending motion.

The F will be zero

along the x-axis and
k = 0.3
n along the y-axis.
fk P
+
In this figure, we have:
W
FFxx  0;
0; FFyy  00
Summary: Important Points (Cont.)
• Remember the normal force n is not
always equal to the weight of an object.
P
n 300
It is necessary to draw
m the free-body diagram
W and sum forces to solve

P for the correct n value.

n
W FFxx  0;
0; FFyy  00

 Summary
Static Friction: No Kinetic Friction:
relative motion. Relative motion.

≤ ssn
ffss ≤ n = kkn
ffkk = n
Procedure for solution of equilibrium
problems is the same for each case:

FFxx  00 FFyy  00
CONCLUSION: Chapter 4B
Friction and Equilibrium