The Nature of Friction OR Here’s where things start to get rough (30S version)

Friction - a force that resists motion. It involves Friction - a force that resists motion. It involves objects that are in contact with each other. Causes of Friction an object deforms a surface and vice versa a "plowing" force is required to move the object over the deformations irregularities interlock and offer resistance to movement

Starting friction - the maximum frictional force between stationary objects Sliding Friction - the frictional force between objects that are sliding with respect to each other

Properties of Friction 1. Friction acts parallel to the surfaces that are in contact and in the direction opposite to the motion of the object or to the net force tending to produce such motion. 2. Friction depends on the nature of the materials in contact and the smoothness of their surfaces.

3. Sliding friction is less than or equal to starting friction. 4. Friction is practically independent of the area of contact

5. Starting or sliding friction is directly proportional to the force pressing the two surfaces together.

Coefficient of sliding friction - the ratio of the force of sliding friction to the normal force

Example 1: To move a 45 kg crate at a constant speed along a surface, requires a 125 N force. What is the coefficient of friction between the 2 surfaces? Ff = FA= 125 N – constant velocity FN = Fw= mg = 45(9.8) = 441 N

Example 2: A box weighing 450 N is pulled along a level floor at constant speed by a rope that makes an angle of 30 with the floor as shown. If the force on the rope is 260 N a) What is the horizontal component (Fh) of this force? b) What is the normal force (FN)? c) What is the coefficient of sliding friction?

Solution b) The normal force (FN) is the difference between the downward force of the block's weight (Fw) and the vertical component of the force of the rope (Fv). FN = Fw - Fa sin  = 450 - 260sin(300) = 320 N a) Fh = Fa cos = 260cos(300) = 225N