FRICTION LAB (FORMAL LAB)

Purpose: The objectives of this experiment are to analyze a force of friction vs. time
graph to determine the coefficients of static and kinetic friction between a friction cart
of your choice and the aluminum ramp. Construct a graph to study the relationship
between the force of friction and the normal force.

Procedure:

1. Obtain the necessary materials-iPad, Airlink, USB cable, power cord, force meter,
felt or Plastic bottom friction tray, ramp, constant velocity car, and a mass set.
2. Boot the computer and connect the Airlink and force meter via Blur Tooth to the
iPad of one of the members of the lab group. Check the number on your AirLink to
make sure that you are connected to the correct one for your group.
3. Click on the Sparkvue App. The App should detect the force meter. If needed click
on Force Pull Positive.
4. Maximize the force vs. time graph.
5. Connect the force meter to the top of the constant velocity car using the
attaching screw.
6. Place 1000g into the tray and place the loop of string around the hook on the
force meter.
7. Before you start and before every data run, ZERO THE FORCE METER by pressing
on the zero button on the force meter, while making sure that there is no force on
the force meter (keep the string slack) as you do so.
8. Click start (green play button) to begin taking data, THEN turn on the constant
velocity car (keeping it at a low setting) to pull the friction tray over the ramp.
9. After 2 or 3 seconds, click the stop button to stop taking data and turn the
constant velocity car off.
10.Click on the scaling button if necessary.
11.Use the pointer arrow to determine the maximum static force of friction and the
average kinetic force of friction for your run. Record these in a data table.
12.Add more mass to the tray (100g increments work well) and repeat steps 7-11,
until you have at least 5 trials.
13.For each trial calculate the weight, normal force, and the coefficients of static and
kinetic friction.
14.Construct graphs of Frictional force vs. Normal force on EXCEL or DataAnalysis
and determine the coefficients of static and kinetic friction from your graphs.
15.Write a formal lab report for your experiment, using the usual lab report format.
16.The actual values for the felt and ramp are s= 0.327, and k= 0.206. Use these
values to compute the % error.

Note about formal lab report: Theory section:

Include an additional Theory section where you state all the formulas you used
Include a free body diagram in this section and
Include a sketch of the Friction vs. Time graph that you observed on Data Studio.
Label the various sections of the graph.
 Formula for percent error: Percent Error = (| measured value actual value|)/actual
value * 100%