Friction

Pages 23-26 in text

What is Friction
Friction is a force A frictional force arises when two substances contact each other. The molecules of each surface interact according to Newtons Laws of Motion. Friction always opposes motion, i.e., it is opposite to the direction of velocity.

Types of Friction
Dry Friction
Occurs between the non-lubricated surfaces of solid objects

Fluid Friction
Occurs with fluids,or lubricated surfaces

Static Friction
When dry friction acts between two surfaces that are not moving relative to each other

Dynamic Friction

>

When dry friction acts between two surfaces that are moving relative to each other

Contact Force
Force that occurs between objects that are in contact with each other. Contact forces can be resolved into components that are perpendicular and parallel to the surfaces in contact. The perpendicular component is called the normal force. The parallel component is called friction.

Contact Force in Running

Friction Force

Normal Force

Resultant force on runner During the push off phase in running, the normal force acts upward on the runner, while the friction force acts forward on the runner. The frictional force is the only force capable of moving the runner horizontally down the track. The normal force can only accelerate the runner upwards.

Friction and the Normal Force

The maximum frictional force is proportional to the normal contact force. An increase in the normal force results in an increase in the maximum friction. This is because the molecules on the two surfaces are pushed together more, thus increasing their interactions.

Increased Weight, Increased Normal Force, Increased Friction

5 kg

10 kg

Surfaces are more compressed together and there are more interactions between molecules

Friction and Surface Area

Friction is not affected by the size of the surface area in contact. If the normal force remains constant, but the contacting surface area is increased, then the normal force is spread out over more molecules, thus the force on each molecule is reduced.
Amontons (1699)

What about race car tires?

Calculating Friction
Ff_max = FN
Ff_max is the maximum force of friction (Mu) is the coefficient of friction FN is the normal force Friction can range in value from -Ff_max to +Ff_max
depends on the types of surfaces that are interacting. It would be low for rubber on ice, but high for rubber on asphalt. It also depends on whether the surfaces are moving relative to each other ( static or dynamic )

Friction Example
A 5 kg block of wood rests on a ceramic counter. If the coefficient of static friction between the block and the counter is 0.4, what horizontal force is necessary to move the block. Fh 5 kg Fh mg Ff FN Fy = may FN mg = may = 0 FN = mg Fx = max Fh Ff = max = 0 Fh = Ff Free body diagram

Normal force = FN = mg = 5 x 9.81 = 49 N

Fh= Friction force = FN = 0.4 x 49 = 19.6 N

Horse Pulling Cart

According to Newtons 3rd Law, these forces are equal and opposite. So, if the horse pulls forward on the cart with the same force as the cart pulls back on the horse, how will the horse ever move the cart?

Solution
Friction acts on the horses feet but very little acts on the wheels of the cart. Drawing a free body diagram reveals the answer. The horse and cart are one system so the forces in between them are internal and cannot produce a change in motion of the system.

FF FN Friction force resulting from the horse pulling back on the ground

mg

FF FN

Force of friction on the wheel which opposes the motion of the horse-cart system

Tug of War Fat Bastard vs. Phil Pfister

Fat Bastard Pull Force = 3000 N Mass = 210 kg Height = 1.8 m Pfister Pull Force = 3000 N Mass = 120 kg Height = 1.8 m

Both competitors are wearing the same footwear which has a coefficient of friction of 1.5 with the rubber floor they are competing on. If both men employ the same technique, who wins?

Two Free Body Diagrams

Fat Bastard Pfister

3000 N

3000 N

2060 N

1180 N

2060 N

Ff = FN = 1.5 x 2060 = 3090 N

Ff = FN = 1.5 x 1180 = 1770 N

1180 N

Fat Bastard Wins

Both competitors have a force of 3000 N pulling on them from the rope. Fat Bastards extra mass gives him a potential friction force (3090 N) which is greater than the force of the rope, so he doesnt move. Pfisters maximum friction force (1170 N) is less than the force of rope, so he is pulled toward Fat Bastard.

Would it be better to pull up or down on the rope?

Suppose competitor A was taller than competitor B. A would be pulling on an upward angle, while B would be pulling on a downward angle. Who has the advantage?

Pulling Up On The Rope

rope Fy = may FN Fy1 mg = may = 0 FN = mg + Fy1 Fx2 mg Fy1 This component increases N FN Fx1

Friction force = Fx1 = FN

Bigger N, means larger friction force

Pulling Down On The Rope

rope This component decreases N Fy1 Fx2 mg Fy = may FN + Fy1 mg = may = 0 FN = mg Fy1

Friction force = Fx1 = FN

Smaller N, means less friction force

FN Fx1

Midterm Example Question

y

Fx1
40

A 5 kg box is being pushed up a 40 incline with an acceleration of -2 m/s/s. If the coefficient of dynamic friction between the incline and box is 0.2, then what is the value of Fx1? Remember that friction always opposes the direction of motion.