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Name: ___________________________________

Date: ___________________________________
Physics 20 Dynamics
Determining the Coefficient of Static Friction Lab


Problem: Can we determine the coefficient of static friction of two unknown materials? Does
surface are affect the magnitude of static friction?

Part 1:

Rationale: If two surfaces are in contact then there will be some amount of friction present.
We tend to simplify calculations that we perform in this class by removing the
presence of air so that we can obtain numerical solutions. The nature of the
relationship between air friction and a moving object is incredibly complex;
however, the relationship between the movement of two surfaces and friction is
much simpler. When we are referring to two surfaces in contact there are two
types of friction that we will consider static friction, or the friction associated with
stationary objects, and kinetic friction, or the friction associated with object
moving relative to each other. The relationships between these forces are given by
the following:


k
f k N
F F

s
f s N
F F


Notice that the force of kinetic friction will have a constant value when the normal
force is constant, but the force of static friction can have any value from zero
Newtons up to a the maximum value.

When we are working on horizontal surfaces it is easy to determine the normal
force. Recall


N g
F F


Because the relationship between the normal force and the force of static friction is
an inequality, when we determine the maximum value we then know that the force
of static friction between those two surface will always be less than or equal to that
value. Therefore, to determine the maximum value of the force of static friction we
can use the relationship


max
s
f s N
F F


Part 2:

Rationale: Does the surface area of an object change the force of friction between two
surfaces?

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Part 1:

Apparatus: 1. Spring Scale
2. Four Different Masses
3. Block of wood with a hook attached to it
4. Scale

Procedure:

1. Calibrate the scale by allowing it to hang vertically.
2. Slide the faceplate so that the scale reads 0 when there is no mass hanging from the
scale.
3. Use a piece of masking tape to keep the faceplate fixed in place.
4. Determine the mass of the wooden block.
5. Attach a spring scale to the hook.
6. Gently start pulling on the spring scale until the block of wood just starts to move.
7. Record the force indicated on the spring scale that was required to get the block to just
start moving.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 four more times, adding more mass each time.

Part 2:

Apparatus: 1. Spring Scale
2. Masses
3. Three different blocks of wood with hooks attached to them
4. Scale

Procedure:

1. Determine the masses of each of the blocks.
2. Determine the surface area of the face of the block that is in contact with the table.
3. Start with the most massive block.
4. Attach the spring scale to the hook.
5. Gently start pulling on the spring scale until the block of wood just starts to move.
6. Record the force indicated on the spring scale that was required to get the block to just
start moving.
7. Place the next most massive block on the scale and place masses on it until it is the same
mass as the first block.
8. Repeat steps 4 and 5.
9. Repeat step 6, adding mass until it has the same mass as the first block.
10. Repeat steps 4 and 5.
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Data: You can use the following charts to collect you data:

Data For Part I
Mass (kg) Normal Force (N) Force of Static Friction (N)








Data for Part II
Mass (kg) Surface Area (m
2
) Formal Force (N) Force of Static Friction (N)











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Analysis:

1. Use the data from Part 1 to plot a graph of normal force versus force of friction.
2. Describe the graph.
3. What is the coefficient of static friction between the table and the block of wood?
4. What are the units for the coefficient of static friction? How do you know?
5. What should the coefficient of static friction be?
6. What happened to the force required to move the block after is started moving?
7. Explain why it is useful to put weight in the back of a truck in the winter.
8. What do you notice about the relationship between the surface area of the block and the
force of static friction when the mass is kept constant? Explain this relationship.