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Our common experience is that a ball rolled on the ground gradually slows down and finally stops even
when no one stopped it. Then, why does a rolling ball stop through a certain distance ? This is because
the surface offers a force that opposes the motion called as frictional force.
FRICTIONAL FORCE
CAUSE OF FRICTION
Mainly occurs due to two factors:
1) Due to interlocking of surface
Two rough surfaces when placed together meet only at certain points. The atoms present at such
points of contact attract each other due to electrostatic attractions. These attractions are called
FORCES OF ADHESION.
When one body is made to move over the other, the force of adhesion opposes the motion.
This force which opposes the motion also gives rise to frictional force. So the force of adhesion
between the two surfaces gives rise to friction.
The force of friction is directly proportional to the weight of the body which moves.
The force of friction depends on the nature of surface in contact. For example, the
force of friction between a pair of highly polished surface is very small compared to the
force of friction between the two rough surfaces.
It does not depend upon the area of the surfaces in contact.
FRICTION IS A SELF ADJUSTING FORCE
Consider a wooden block on a horizontal table. The forces W and R balance each other. So, there is no
motion in the vertical direction.
Now, suppose a small horizontal force F is applied on the block, and the block does not move. At this
stage, the force F should be exactly balanced by the force of friction (f)
⇒ That is F = f
⇒ body stays at rest
Important note
So if the applied force (F) is increased and the block does not move, then the force of friction (f) will
also increase at the same rate.. Hence the force of friction changes itself accordingly to the applied
force, so is called self adjusting force.
TEST YOURSELF
Q Why frictional force is referred to as self adjusting force?
Q At times even when the block of wood is pushed on the horizontal surface it does not move. Why?
Q What is the cause of friction between the two surface in contact?
TYPES OF FRICTION
Static friction
The maximum force of friction when the body is just starting to move is called limiting value of
friction or limiting friction.
OR
The maximum value of the static friction is limiting friction.
The force of friction between the two sliding surfaces in contact when on of them just slides over
the other is called sliding or kinetic friction
The force required to move the body is less than the force required to start the motion.
Motion between two surfaces starts only when the irregularities have been unlocked. Once the motion
starts the contact points do not get enough time to lock with each other, they only act as obstruction.
HENCE THE SLIDING FRICTION BECOMES LESS THAN STATIC FRICTION
Rolling Friction
The force of friction between the two surfaces in contact when one of them is rolling on the other
is called rolling friction.
ROLLING FRICTION < SLIDING FRICTION
Q Why ball bearings are used in all machines where rotatory motion is required?
Q Give one example where sliding friction can be converted into rolling friction
TEST YOURSELF
Q A ball rolled on the ground stops after some time. Why? Name the force responsible for it.
Q Can we walk on a frictionless surface? Give reason
Q A ball is rolled on the frictionless surface and no other force Acts on it. Will its speed decrease,
increase or remains unchanged?
• Leads to loss of energy( when machine parts rub , it reduces their efficiency)
• Leads to wear and tear of moving machine parts.
• Friction reduces the speed of the moving vechicle
Without friction we cannot set the bodies in motion or stop the moving bodies. This friction is absolutely
necessary for carrying out day to day activities like walking, driving, writing etc,On the other hand,
friction wastes energy and brings about wear and tear and slows the motion.
TEST YOURSELF
• Like solid, gases and liquids also experiences friction but less than solids.
• Friction offered by fluids (gases and liquids) is called DRAG.
• The meteors enter the earth’s atmosphere at very high speeds. At such speeds the friction due to
air is also very large. Due to this, temperature of the meteors entering the earth atmosphere rises
to a very high level. As a result meteors burn out soon after entering the earth atmosphere.
To protect space ships from burning during entry to the earth atmosphere, they provide with heat
shield.
• A plain paper sheet falls slowly than a crumpled sheet since in plain sheet surface area is
large , hence it experience a larger force of friction and it speed slows down, whereas in
crumpled form the surface area is small, hence experiences less friction and reaches the ground
quickly.
• To minimize the friction due to water (any liquid) and air, the moving body should have
streamlined shape.
The special shape of the body which offers least resistance to the friction(that is around which
liquid or gas can flow easily) is called streamlined shape.
Streamlined bodies are pointed towards front so that air flows with same speed and in the same
direction at every particular point, called streamlined flow.
EXAMPLES
The bodies of ships and boats are streamlined so that they experience minimum amount of
friction while moving through water.
The body of fishes is streamlined so that they experience less amount of friction in water.
Nature has shaped birds in such a way that they offers least possible friction and they can fly at
very high speed.
The bodies of airplanes are streamlined so that the air offers least possible friction.
TEST YOURSELF
Q State one way of increasing the friction between two surfaces.
Q Name four ways by which friction can be reduced between two surfaces in contact.
Q state two advantages of friction
Q Why is friction called a necessary evil?
Q a) what is a lubricant?
b) How does a lubricant reduces friction?
c) What kind of lubricant is used in i) sewing machine ii) axle of the machine.
Q Why do meteors burn on entering into the atmosphere?
Q Why is boats and aero plane given special shape?
Q why do carom coins move faster on the carom board when dusted with talcum powder?