1. SPH4U: Friction What is it? Systematic catagories of forces
How do we characterize it?
Model of friction
Static & Kinetic friction (kinetic = dynamic in some languages)
Some problems involving friction

2. New Topic: Friction What does it do?
It opposes relative motion of two objects that touch!
How do we characterize this in terms we have learned (forces)?
Friction results in a force in the direction opposite to the direction of relative motion (kinetic friction, static – impending mot) j N
FAPPLIED i ma
fFRICTION
some roughness here mg

3. Surface Friction...
Friction is caused by the “microscopic” interactions between the two surfaces:

4. Surface Friction... Force of friction acts to oppose relative motion:
Parallel to surface.
Perpendicular to Normal force. j N F i ma fF mg

5. Model for Sliding (kinetic) Friction
The direction of the frictional force vector is perpendicular to the normal force vector N.
The magnitude of the frictional force vector |fF| is proportional to the magnitude of the normal force |N |.
|fF| = K | N | ( = K|mg | in the previous example)
The “heavier” something is, the greater the friction will be...makes sense!
The constant K is called the “coefficient of kinetic friction.”
These relations are all useful APPROXIMATIONS to messy reality.

6. Model... Dynamics: i : F  KN = ma j : N = mg so F Kmg = ma
(this works as long as F is bigger than friction, i.e. the left hand side is positive) j N F i ma
K mg mg

7. Forces and Motion
A box of mass m1 = 1.5 kg is being pulled by a horizontal string having tension T = 90 N. It slides with friction (mk = 0.51) on top of a second box having mass m2 = 3 kg, which in turn slides on a frictionless floor. (T is bigger than Ffriction, too.)
What is the acceleration of the second box ?
(a) a = 0 m/s2 (b) a = 2.5 m/s2 (c) a = 3.0 m/s2
Hint: draw FBDs of both blocks – that’s 2 diagrams
slides with friction (mk=0.51 ) T m1
a = ? m2
slides without friction

8. Free Body Diagram First draw FBD of the top box: N1 m1
f = mKN1 = mKm1g T
m1g

9. Solution
Newtons 3rd law says the force box 2 exerts on box 1 is equal and opposite to the force box 1 exerts on box 2.
As we just saw, this force is due to friction:
= mKm1g m1
f1,2
f2,1 m2

10. Solution Now consider the FBD of box 2: N2 (contact from…)
(friction from…)
f2,1 = mkm1g m2
(contact from…)
(gravity from…)
m1g
m2g

11. Solution Finally, solve F = ma in the horizontal direction:
mKm1g = m2a
a = 2.5 m/s2
f2,1 = mKm1g m2

12. Inclined Plane with Friction:
Draw free-body diagram: ma
KN j N  mg  i

13. Inclined plane... Consider i and j components of FNET = ma :
i mg sin KN = ma
j N = mg cos 
KN
mg sin Kmg cos  = ma ma j N 
a / g = sin Kcos   mg
mg cos  i
mg sin 

14. Static Friction... j N F i fF mg
So far we have considered friction acting when the two surfaces move relative to each other- I.e. when they slide..
We also know that it acts in when they move together: the ‘static” case.
In these cases, the force provided by friction will depend on the OTHER forces on the parts of the system. j N F i fF mg

15. Static Friction… (with one surface stationary)
Just like in the sliding case except a = 0.
i : F fF = 0
j : N = mg
While the block is static: fF F j N F i fF mg

16. Static Friction…
The maximum possible force that the friction between two objects can provide is fMAX = SN, where s is the “coefficient of static friction.”
So fF  S N.
As one increases F, fF gets bigger until fF = SN and the object starts to move.
If an object doesn’t move, it’s static friction
If an object does move, it’s dynamic friction j N F i fF mg

17. Static Friction...
S is discovered by increasing F until the block starts to slide:
i : FMAX SN = 0
j : N = mg
S FMAX / mg j N
FMAX i
Smg mg

18. Forces and Motion T q m static friction (ms = 0.4 )
A box of mass m =10.21 kg is at rest on a floor. The coefficient of static friction between the floor and the box is ms = 0.4.
A rope is attached to the box and pulled at an angle of q = 30o above horizontal with tension T = 40 N.
Does the box move?
(a) yes (b) no (c) too close to call T q m
static friction (ms = 0.4 )

19. Solution y x Pick axes & draw FBD of box: Apply FNET = ma
y: N + T sin q - mg = maY = 0 N
N = mg - T sin q
= 80 N T
x: T cos q - fFR = maX q
The box will move if T cos q - fFR > 0
fFR m mg

20. Solution y x y: N = 80 N x: T cos q - fFR = maX
The box will move if T cos q - fFR > 0 N
T cos q = 34.6 N T
fMAX = msN
fMAX = msN = (.4)(80N) = 32 N q m
So T cos q > fMAX and the box does move mg
Now use dynamic friction: max = Tcosq - mKN

21. Static Friction:  We can also consider S on an inclined plane.
In this case, the force provided by friction will depend on the angle  of the plane. 

22. (Newton’s 2nd Law along x-axis)
Static Friction...
The force provided by friction, fF , depends on . fF
ma = 0 (block is not moving)
mg sin ff  i j N 
(Newton’s 2nd Law along x-axis) mg 

23. Static Friction...
We can find s by increasing the ramp angle until the block slides:
mg sin ff
In this case, when it starts to slide:
ffSN  Smg cos M
SN i j
mg sin MSmg cos M N
M mg 
Stan M

24. Additional comments on Friction:
Since fF = N , kinetic friction “does not” depend on the area of the surfaces in contact. (This is a surprisingly good rule of thumb, but not an exact relation. Do you see why??)
By definition, it must be true that S ³ K for any system (think about it...).

25. Model for Surface Friction
The direction of the frictional force vector fF is perpendicular to the normal force vector N, in the direction opposing relative motion of the two surfaces.
Kinetic (sliding): The magnitude of the frictional force vector is proportional to the magnitude of the normal force N.
fF = KN
It moves, but it heats up the surface it moves on!
Static: The frictional force balances the net applied forces such that the object doesn’t move. The maximum possible static frictional force is proportional to N.
fF  SN and as long as this is true, then fF = fA in opposite direction
It doesn’t move!

26. Aside: Graph of Frictional force vs Applied force: fF = SN fF = KN
fF = FA FA

27. Problem: Box on Truck
A box with mass m sits in the back of a truck. The coefficient of static friction between the box and the truck is S.
What is the maximum acceleration a that the truck can have without the box slipping? S m a

28. Problem: Box on Truck Draw Free Body Diagram for box:
Consider case where fF is max... (i.e. if the acceleration were any larger, the box would slip). N j i
fF = SN mg

29. Problem: Box on Truck Use FNET = ma for both i and j components
i SN = maMAX
j N = mg
aMAX = S g N j
aMAX i
fF = SN mg

30. Forces and Motion
An inclined plane is accelerating with constant acceleration a. A box resting on the plane is held in place by static friction. What is the direction of the static frictional force? S a Ff Ff Ff
(a) (b) (c)

31. Solution
First consider the case where the inclined plane is not accelerating. N Ff mg mg Ff N
All the forces add up to zero!

32. Solution
If the inclined plane is accelerating, the normal force decreases and the frictional force increases, but the frictional force still points along the plane: N Ff a mg
All the forces add up to ma!
F = ma
The answer is (a) mg Ff N ma

33. Putting on the brakes
Anti-lock brakes work by making sure the wheels roll without slipping. This maximizes the frictional force slowing the car since S > K .