Friction

The force of friction is a common but complex force. The exact method
by which friction works is still a topic of great scientific interest but we
can make some general statements about it. We do know that it arises
from the electromagnetic forces between atoms and molecules at the
surfaces of objects.
We can build a simple model of the friction force that is useful in many
situations. The model friction force has the following properties:
There are two types of frictional force. The force of static friction and
the force of kinetic friction:
The direction of the static frictional force is along the contact surface
and opposite in direction of any applied force.
The magnitude of the static friction force is given by
F
s

s
R
n

Where
s
is the coefficient of static friction and R
n
is the normal reaction.
The direction of the kinetic frictional force is opposite the direction
of motion of the object it acts on.
The magnitude of the kinetic friction force is given by
F
k

k
R
n
Where
k
is the coefficient of static friction and R
n
is the normal reaction.
The coefficients of friction depend on the nature of the surface.
The frictional force is nearly independent of the contact area between
the objects.
The kinetic friction force is usually less than the maximum static
friction force.
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- 1 -
Friction
The plot below of the frictional force vs. the applied force illustrates
some of the features of the frictional force.
ote that the frictional force e!uals the applied force "in magnitude#
until it reaches the maximum possible value m
s
. Then the object begins
to move as the applied force exceeds the maximum frictional force. When
the object is moving the frictional force is kinetic and roughly constant
at the value mk which is below the maximum static friction force.
The table below summarizes the main characteristics of the frictional
force.
Static Friction Kinetic Friction
Symbol f
s
f
k
Direction
opposite direction of
applied force
opposite direction of
objects motion
!a"nitude #m
s
$ m
k
$

$ote% &n the !' !odule it will be assumed that
s
=
k
=
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- 2 -
Friction
(imitin" e)uilibrium
$f the object is at rest and the forces are in e!uilibrium with the limiting
friction% the object is said to be in limitin" e)uilibrium. &t this point% the
friction force is at its maximum value% called the limitin" friction.
*oefficient of friction +,
The magnitude of the maximum frictional force is a fraction of the
normal reaction "R
n
#. This fraction is called the coefficient of friction
for the two surfaces in contact.
F
max
= R
n

For a perfectly smooth surface% = '.
$ote%
The maximum force will only act if:
there is a state of limiting e!uilibrium or
motion is taking place
$n other cases the frictional force is e!ual and opposite the applied force
- "i.e. F = - where - # R
n
#
.xample
& block of mass (' kg rests on a hori)ontal plane% the coefficient of the
friction between the block and the plane being '.*. +alculate the friction
force acting on the block when a hori)ontal force - is applied to the block
and the magnitude of - is:
"i# ,' "ii# -' "iii# ././
Solution
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- 3 -
10 kg
10g N
R
n
N
F
P
Resolve upwards : R
n
10g = 0
R
n
= 9
Ma!imum "riction "orce F
ma!
= R
n
F
ma!
= 0#$ 9= %# N
&i' ( ) %# so F =20 N *here is no motion#
&ii' ( ) %# so F = +0 N *here is no motion#

&iii' ( = %# F = F
ma!
= %# *he ,lock is on
the point o" moving &e-uili,rium'#
Friction
.xample
+alculate the maximum frictional force which can act when a block of
mass . kg rests on a rough hori)ontal surface% the coefficient of friction
between the surfaces being
"i# '.* "ii# '.0
Solution
.xample
& block of mass , kg rests on a rough hori)ontal surface. & hori)ontal
force of (- is applied to the block. $f the block is on the point of
moving% find the coefficient of friction between the block and the
surface.
Solution
.xample
& block of mass . kg rests on a rough hori)ontal surface. & hori)ontal
force of ,-.. is applied to the block. $f the block is on the point of
moving% find the coefficient of friction between the block and the
surface.
Solution
R
n
= .g = . 1./ = -'
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- + -
% kg
%g N
R
n
N
F
ma!
= R
n
2 kg
2g N
R
n
N
F
1+
&i' Resolve upwards : R
n
%g = 0
R
n
= +9
Ma!imum "riction "orce F
ma!
= R
n
F
ma!
= 0#$ +9 = 29#+ N
&ii' Resolve &as ,e"ore': R
n
= +9
F
ma!
= Rn = 0#3 +9 = 1+#. N
Resolve upwards : R
n
2g = 0
R
n
= 19#$
Ma!imum "riction "orce F
ma!
= R
n


1+
0 .1+
19 $
F
.
R .
= = =

2+ %
0 %
+9
F .
.
R
= = =
Friction
.xample
Solution
+omponents diagram
.xample
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- % -
$ kg
$g N
R
n
N
F
P
30
( cos 30
R
n
( sin30
$g N
F
& block of mass * kg rests on a rough
hori)ontal surface. The coefficient of friction
between block and the surface is '... & force
- is applied at an angle of 0' to the
hori)ontal. Find the value of - when the block
is about to move.
Resolving : ( cos 30 F = 0
F = ( cos 30 /10
Resolving : R 1 ( sin 30 $g = 0
R = $g ( sin30 /20
F = R /30
2u, /10 and /20 into /30
( cos30 = 0#%&%#% 0#%('
( cos 30 = 29#+ 0#2%(
(&cos 30 1 0#2%' = 29#+
( = 2$#3 N
Solution
+omponents diagram
Friction
.xample
Solution
*omponents dia"ram
.xample
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- $ -
$ kg
$g N
R
n
N
F
P
30
( cos 30
R
n

$g ( sin30
F
R
n
2(sin$0
R
n
N 2% N
& block of mass * kg rests on a rough
hori)ontal surface. The coefficient of
friction between block and the surface
is '... & force - is applied at an angle
of 0' to the hori)ontal. Find the value
of - when the block is about to move.
Resolving : ( cos 30 F = 0
F = ( cos 30 /10
Resolving : R ( sin 30 $g = 0
R = $g 1 ( sin30 /20
F = R /30
2u, /10 and /20 into /30
( cos30 = 0#%&%#% 1 0#%('
( cos 30 = 29#+ 1 0#2%(
(&cos 30 0#2%' = 29#+
( = +.#. N
& block of mass * kg rests on a rough
hori)ontal surface. The coefficient of
friction between block and the surface is
'... The forces - and ,- are applied at an
angle of 0'and *' to the hori)ontal.
Find the value of - when the block is
about to move.
2
* kg
R
, 2
F
$0 30
Resolve: 2( cos$0 1 ( cos30 F 3 0
F 3 2( cos$0 1 ( cos30
Resolve: R 1 2( sin$0 ( sin30 $g 3 0
R 3 $g 2( sin$0 1 ( sin30
F = R /30
2u, /10 and /20 into /30
( 1 0#$$0( = 0#%&%# 1(&1#.3210#%''
1#$$0( = 29#+ 0#$1$(
2#+2( = 29#+
( = 11# N
& block of mass * kg rests on a rough
hori)ontal surface. & force of ,. is applied
at an angle of 0' to the hori)ontal. $f the
block is about to move% find the coefficient of
friction between the block and the surface.
Solution
+omponents diagram
Friction
.xample
& block of mass m kg rests on a rough plane inclined at 0' to the
hori)ontal. The coefficient of friction between the block and the plane is
'... & force - acts on the block up the plane along the line of greatest
slope. Find the possible values of - if the block remains stationary.
Solution
*here are two possi,ilities: &a' *he ,lock is a,out to move down the slope4
&,' *he ,lock is a,out to move up the slope#
&a'
Resolving parallel to the plane : ( 1 F mg sin 30 = 0
( = +#9m F /10
Resolving perpendicular to the plane: R
n
mg cos 30 = 0
R
n
= #+. m /20

F = R 304
2 = -.1m '.."/.-/5m#
2 = '.*.5 m
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- . -
2(cos$0
( cos30
F
R
n
2(sin$0
( sin30 $g
$ kg
$g N
R
n
N
F
2% N
30
2% cos 30
R
n
2% sin30
$g N
F
m N
30
R
n
N
( N
30
R
n
mg cos30
mg sin30
(
Force diagram Parallel and Perpendicular components
F
Resolving : 2% cos 30 F = 0
F = 2% cos 30 /10
F = 21#$%1
Resolving : R 1 2% sin 30 $g = 0
R = +$#3 /20
21 $%1
0 +$
+$ 3
F .
.
R .
= = =
"b#
So/ the ran"e of 0alues of - is% 1.234m - 5.'6 m.
Friction
.xample
& block of mass m kg rests on a rough plane inclined at 0' to the
hori)ontal. The coefficient of friction between the block and the plane is
'... & hori)ontal force - acts on the block. Find the possible values of - if
the block remains stationary.
Solution
There are two possibilities: "a# The block is about to move down the slope%
"b# The block is about to move up the slope.
+a,
+b,
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- -
30
R
n
mg cos30
mg sin30
(
Parallel and Perpendicular components
F
30
( N
mg N
R
n
(cos30
mg cos30 (sin30
R
n F
mg sin30
2arallel: 2 F 6 mg sin0' 7 '
2 7 F 8 -.1m
2erpendicular: R
n
9 mg cos0' = '
R
n
= /.-/5 m
F = R
2 = '.. /.-/5 m 8 -.1 m
2 = 1.(- m
Resolving parallel:
( cos30 1 F mg sin30 = 0 /10

Resolving perpendicular:
R
n
- mg cos 30 (sin30 = 0 /20

F = R
( cos30 mg sin30 10#%&mg cos30 1 (sin30' = 0
0#$$0( 0#%mg 1 0#+330mg 1 0#2%( = 0
1#11$( = 0#0$.mg ( = 0#0$ mg
So/ the ran"e of 0alues of - is% 1.12 m" - '.3' m".
Mathematics made simple M1 Friction
- 9 -
(cos30
mg cos30 (sin30
R
n
F
mg sin30
Resolving parallel:
( cos30 F mg sin30 = 0 /10

Resolving perpendicular:
R
n
- mg cos 30 (sin30 = 0 /20

F = R
( cos30 mg sin30 0#%&mg cos30 1 (sin30' = 0
0#$$0( 0#%mg 0#+330mg 0#2%( = 0
0#$1$( = 0#933mg ( = 1#%1 mg