FRICTION

Equilibrium: Until motion

begins, all forces on the mower
are balanced. Friction in wheel
bearings and on the ground
oppose the lateral motion.
 AFTER COMPLETING THIS
MODULE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO:

 Define
Defineand
andcalculate
calculatethe
thecoefficients
coefficientsof ofkinetic
kineticand
andstatic
staticfriction,
friction,and
and
give
givethe
therelationship
relationshipof
offriction
frictiontotothe
thenormal
normalforce.
force.
 Apply
Applythe
theconcepts
conceptsofofstatic
staticand
andkinetic
kineticfriction
frictiontotoproblems
problemsinvolving
involving
constant
constantmotion
motionororimpending
impendingmotion.
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 lesson, 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
ForFriction
FrictionProblems:
Problems:
 Read
Readproblem;
problem;draw
drawand
andlabel
labelsketch.
sketch.
 Construct
Constructforce
forcediagram
diagramforforeach
eachobject,
object,vectors
vectorsatatorigin
originof
ofx,y
x,yaxes.
axes.
Choose
Choosexxor oryyaxis
axisalong
alongmotion
motionororimpending
impendingmotion.
motion.
 Dot
Dotininrectangles
rectanglesand
andlabel
labelxxand
andyycompo-nents
compo-nentsopposite
oppositeand
andadjacent
adjacenttoto
angles.
angles.
 Label
Labelall
allcomponents;
components;choose
choosepositive
positivedirection.
direction.
 FOR FRICTION IN EQUILIBRIUM:

 Read,
Read,draw
drawand
andlabel
labelproblem.
problem.
 Draw
Drawfree-body
free-bodydiagram
diagramfor
foreach
eachbody.
body.
 Choose
Choosexxor
ory-axis
y-axisalong
alongmotion
motionororimpending
impendingmotion
motion
and
andchoose
choosedirection
directionof
ofmotion
motionas
aspositive.
positive.
 Identify
Identifythe
thenormal
normalforce
forceand
andwrite
writeone
oneof
offollowing:
following:
fsfs==sn or fk = kn
sn or fk = kn

 For
Forequilibrium,
equilibrium,we
wewrite
writefor
foreach
eachaxis:
axis:
FFx x==00 FFy y==00
 Solve
Solvefor
forunknown
unknownquantities.
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.
600
y n x
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

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:
SUMMARY
FFxx  00 FFyy  00
 CONCLUSION: CHAPTER 4B
FRICTION AND EQUILIBRIUM