DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

IIT (BHU) VARANASI

ME: 102: Engineering Mechanics

Assignment: - 4

Friction

Q.1. Bodies A and B weigh 500N and 300N respectively. The platform on
which they are placed is raised from the horizontal position to an angle ϴ. What
is the maximum angle that can be reached before the bodies slip down the
incline? Take µs for body B and the plane as 0.2 and µsfor body A and plane as
0.3.

(Hint: Make the FBD’s of A and B separately. The force between A and
Bwould be parallel to the incline. Why?)

Q.2. What is the minimum value of µs that will allow the rod AB to remain in
place? The rod has a length of 3.3 m and it has a weight of 200 N.

(Hint: When two curved surfaces are in contact, it is always possible todraw one
common tangent and one common normal. When one of the surfaces is a sharp
corner, the directions of common normal and common tangent are decided by
the other surface. The component of the reaction along the common tangent is
called friction force, and the component normal to it is called the normal
reaction.)

Q.3. What minimum force F is needed to start body A moving to the right if
µs=0.25 for all surfaces? The following weights are given

WA = 125 N WR = 50 N WAB = 100 N

(Hint: In a sliding type problem, you have to first figure out the direction
of relative motion in the slot, because µN must be shown in the correct
direction. In this case, when the block Aslides to the right, the block B will also
slide to the right. A formal way to conclude this is to first locate the
instantaneous axis ofrotation of link AB. The whole link will rotate either
clockwise or counter clockwise with respect to this centre, instantaneously.
There is an intuitive way also to figure it out. “Fix” the slider B in its place and
try to move A towards right. For the given angles, AB will develop a
compressive force. The tangential component of this force will make the slider
B move towards right. Notice that as long as the given angle 10° is less than 30°
(90° - 60° = 30°), this conclusion is correct. You will need to use a similar logic
in Problem 7.26 also. Another issue in this problem is the direction of the
normal force on B due to slot. Unless there is a tilting tendency, only one side of
the slot will exert force on the sliding block.. The weight of B will induce
upward reaction, whereas compressive force in AB will cause downward
reaction. Initially, it is generally not possible to predict the dominant factor. So,
make a guess and solve the problem. If you get a negative value for the normal
reaction, change the direction and solve the whole problem again. In both cases,
the friction force on B must be shown towards left.)

Q.4. A 500-lb crate A rests on a 1000-lb crate B. The centres of gravity of the
crates are at the geometric centres. The coefficients of static friction between
contact surfaces are shown in the figure. The force T is increased from zero.
What is the first action to occur?

(Hint: There are four possibilities:

• A slides over B,
• A topples over B,
• A remains stuck to B and B slides on the ground, and finally,
• A remains stuck to B and B topples over the ground.
All four are to be examined one by one. Find T for each case, ignoring the other
three possibilities. The minimum value of T will indicate the first action to
occur.)

Q.5. A block A of mass 500 kg rests on astationary support B where the static
coefficient of frictionµs = 0.4. On the right side, support C is on rollers. The
dynamic coefficient of friction µd of the support C with body A is 0.2. If C is
moved at constant speed to the left, how far does it move before body A begins
to move?

(Hint: Note that since the normal support reactions change with the changein the
position of the roller support, the friction forces at the two supports will also
change. Also, unless there is a tendency to slip (impending slippage), the
friction force should be expressed as an unknown force, which would be less
than µ times the normal reaction, which is the maximum possible friction force
between the two contacting surfaces )

Q.6. If the static coefficient of friction at C is 0.4. What is the minimum torque
T needed to start a counterclockwise rotation of BA about hinge A? The
following are the weights of the bodies involved
AB = 3lb BC = 4lb C = 2lb
(Hint: Read the comments for Problem 7.10. The length BC is not given,
but it will cancel out.)

Q.7. Can a force P roll the 50 lb cylinder over the step? The static coefficient of
friction is 0.4. What is the value of P if this can be done?
(Hint: Find the normal force N and the friction force F, and verify if F ≤µN. If
not, the surface is not capable of providing the required friction force, andhence,
the roller will start spinning at the same position and will not climb up the step.)
Q. 8. Suppose that an ice lifter is used to support a hard block of material hy
friction only. What is the minimum coefficient of static friction µs, to
accomplish this for any weight W and geometry shown in the figure?
(Hint: Find the normal force N and the friction force F on the block, and
use the condition F ≤ µN, i.e., µ ≥ F / N .)
Q. 9. A rectangular case is loaded with uniform vertical thin rods such that
when it is full, as shown in (a), the case has a total weight of 1000 lb. The case
weighs 100 lb when empty and has a coefficient of static friction 0.3 with the
floor as shown in the figure. A force T of 200 lb is maintained on the case. If the
rods are unloaded as shown in (b), what is the limiting value of x for
equilibrium to be maintained?
(Hint: Slipping and toppling both possibilities are to be examined.)

Q. 10. How much force F must be applied to wedge tobegin to raise the crate?
Neglect changes in the geometry. What force must the stpper block provide to
prevent the crate from moving to the left? The static coefficient of friction
between all surfaces is 0.3.
(Hint: Assume that the stopper block is of very small height, such thatwhen a
force of sufficient magnitude drives the wedge below the crate, the crate topples
about its left edge. Since the weight of the wedge is not given, assume it to be
massless. Make all the FBD’s when the wedge just enters under the crate to
give the crate a tilting tendency. In this situation, the stopper will apply one
horizontal force and one vertical force at the left edge of the crate. The bottom
ofthe crate will lose contact with the ground, and, on the right edge of the crate,
the wedge will apply normal and friction forces in directions which are normal
and parallel to the wedge surface. Ignore any change in geometry because of a
small tilt in this situation. Also note that you can use the moment equation for
the crate, but not for the wedge. Why?)
Q.11. The rod Ab is pulled at A and it moves to the left. If the coefficient of
dynamic friction for the rod at a and B is 0.4, what must be minimum value of
W2 be to prevent the block from tipping when α = 20°? With this value of W2,
determine the minimum coefficient of static friction between the block and the
supporting plane needed to just prevent the block from sliding. W1 is 100 N.
(Hint: Try to understand the physics of the problem. After finding out W2 ,min
and µmin, there are nine possibilities:
• If W2<W2, min and µ ≥ µmin, the block will topple.
• If W2 = W2, minand µ >µmin, the block will have toppling tendency.
• If W2 ≥ W2, minand µ <µmin, the block will slide.
• If W2>W2, minand µ = µmin, the block will have sliding tendency.
• If W2 = W2, minand µ = µmin, the block will have simultaneous tendency
oftoppling and sliding.
• If W2>W2, minand µ >µmin,, the block will neither topple nor slide nor
willhave any such tendency.
• If W2<W2, minand µ <µmin,, it is an unpredictable situation; the block
willeither topple or slide depending on the relative magnitudes of W2
and µ)