Lesson 2

Friction
 Focus Question

What force causes a train to stop?

 New Vocabulary

static friction

kinetic friction

coefficient of kinetic friction

coefficient of static friction

 Review Vocabulary

force: a push or a pull exerted on an object; has

both direction and magnitude and may be a
contact or a field force
 Kinetic and Static Friction

• Friction is a force that opposes the motion of two

surfaces that are in contact with each other.
• There are two types of friction—static friction and
kinetic friction.
 Kinetic and Static Friction

• Static friction is the force exerted on one surface

by another when there is no motion between the
two surfaces.
• For example, in the image on the left, the force
applied to the couch is balanced by the static
friction force. The couch does not move.
 Kinetic and Static Friction

• If you push hard enough, the couch will begin to

move, and kinetic friction will act on it.
• Kinetic friction is exerted on one surface by another
when the two surfaces rub against each other
because one or both of them are moving.
 Kinetic and Static Friction

• Frictional force depends on the materials that the

surfaces are made of.

• The different lines

correspond to
dragging a block
along different
surfaces.
 Kinetic and Static Friction

• The slope of this line is the coefficient of kinetic

friction (μk) between the two surfaces. It relates the
frictional force to the normal force, as shown below.
Kinetic Friction Force
Ff, kinetic = μkFN
• Notice that the normal force (FN) also plays a role in
the size of the friction force.
 Kinetic and Static Friction

• Similarly, μs is the coefficient of static friction between

the two surfaces.
Static Friction Force
Ff, static = μsFN
• μsFN is the maximum static friction force that must be
overcome before motion can begin.
Kinetic and Static Friction
 vg KNOWN
FN
Kinetic and Static Friction Ff v = 0.35 m/s
m = 1.56 kg
Fchild μk = 0.65
Use with Example Problem 3. Fg UNKNOWN
Problem Fchild = ?
A child drags a heavy, rubber-soled shoe
SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
by its laces across a sidewalk at a constant
• Because the shoe is not accelerating in the y-
speed of 0.35 m/s. The shoe has a mass of
direction, Fnet, y = 0.
1.56 kg and the coefficient of kinetic
• Thus, the normal force and the shoe’s weight
friction is 0.65. What is the force exerted
by the child? (Assume the sole is in are equal in magnitude.
contact with the sidewalk, not bouncing FN  Fg  mg
around, and that the child pulls • Because the shoe is not accelerating in the x-
horizontally.) direction, Fnet, x = 0.
• Thus, the force the child exerts and the
Response
frictional force are equal in magnitude.
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM Fchild  Ff  μk FN  μk mg
• Draw a vector diagram.  0.651.56 kg9.8 N/kg  9.9 N
• List the knowns and unknowns.
EVALUATE THE ANSWER
• Force is in newtons, so the units are correct.
 FN
Kinetic and Static Friction Ff Fchild

Fg
Use with Example Problem 4. a
Problem
If the child in the previous Additional In-Class SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
Example pulls with an extra 2.0 N in the • Find the net force in each direction.
horizontal direction, what will be the acceleration • Fnet, y = 0 and FN = mg, as it did in the
of the shoe? previous example.
Response • Ff is same as it was in the previous
SKETCH AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM example, so Fnet, x = Fchild − Ff = 2 N.
• Draw a force diagram. • Use Newton’s second law.
• List the knowns and unknowns. Fnet  ma
KNOWN UNKNOWN Fnet, x 2.0 N
ax    1.3 m/s2
Fchild = 11.9 N a=? m 1.56 kg
m = 1.56 kg EVALUATE THE ANSWER
• 1.3 m/s2 is about (1/8)g, so it is a reasonable
μk = 0.65 acceleration.
 Quiz

1. Which is the force that opposes the motion of two

surfaces that are in contact with each other when there
is no motion between the two surfaces?

A normal force C kinetic friction

B gravitational force D static friction

CORRECT
 Quiz

2. A block is dragged along the following surfaces. Which

would result in the greatest kinetic friction force?

A highly polished table

B rough table

C sandpaper CORRECT

D The kinetic force would be equal for all

surfaces.
 Quiz

3. Which equation can be used to calculate

the static friction force?

A F = μs/FN C F = μsFN CORRECT

B F = μs + FN D F = μkFN
 Quiz

4. Which has the lowest coefficient of friction?

A cast iron on cast iron

B glass on glass

C nonstick coating on steel CORRECT

D steel on steel with castor oil

 Quiz

5. A woman pushes an oak chest across an oak floor at a

constant speed of 0.450 m/s. The chest has a mass of 40.0
kg, and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.620. What is
the force exerted by the woman?

A 243 N CORRECT C 3.81 N

B 11.1 N D 29.0 N