FRICTION

In real life an object which is moving over a horizontal surface does not continue with constant velocity when the accelerating force is removed. Instead the object slows down and eventually stops. The deceleration is caused by a frictional force between the object and the surface on which it travels. A frictional force always acts to oppose the motion of an object over a surface and is an example of a contact force. When we try to slide one object over another, we find that there is a force which opposes the motion. This force is called friction. Whenever there is relative motion of two surfaces in contact, there is frictional resistance. When a body moves over another, it has to overcome friction. This needs energy. Hence, some energy is always wasted in overcoming friction. How is friction helpful? From what has been discussed above, it may appear that if there were no friction, our life would have been much more easier and we would not have to spend energy in overcoming the frictional resistance. This is not true. As a matter of fact, it is only because of friction that we are able to move around. Try to run on a very smooth surface and see what happens. As we step forward, friction opposes the forward force, so that the foot does not slip forward.

When we raise our heel again to take another forward pace, the friction prevents the front part of the shoe moving back. On account of the friction between the ground and the rubber type of a bicycle, the latter can move forward. In the absence of friction between the wheels and ground, the wheels are unable to roll. This is why the wheels of bicycle and other vehicles are treaded to increase friction. To stop the bicycle, we use the opposing frictional force between the brake blocks and the wheel rim. When the driver applies the brakes of an automobile, the friction of the brake lining on the brake drum slows down the wheels and enable him to bring the car to a stop. Friction holds a screw in wood. It also enables us to use nails to fix boards together. If friction were eliminated, dishes would slide off the table unless the table were perfectly level. Thus without friction, our life would have been, in reality, very inconvenient.

Types of Friction You must have noticed that when you have to slide a heavy box, it is easy to slide it once the box has started sliding. You may also have noticed that it is much more easy to roll a heavy drum than to slide it. This is because there are three types of friction. They are:
y y y

the Static Friction the Kinetic or Dynamic Friction, and

the Rolling Friction. The friction that exists between the two surfaces in contact when there is no relative motion between them is called static friction. The force which makes the surface just start to slide over another, is called limiting friction. The friction that exists between a surface sliding on another surface is called kinetic or dynamic friction. When a body rolls on the surface of another, the friction that exists between the surfaces is known as rolling friction. In the example described above, when the box just starts moving, the friction is the static friction. Once it has started moving, the friction that exists is the sliding friction. In the case when the drum is rolling on the surface, the friction is the rolling friction. Experimentally, it has been proved that Static friction > Kinetic or Dynamic friction > Rolling friction Laws of Friction

y y y y y

Friction always acts in such a direction that it opposes the motion. Force of friction is directly proportional to normal reaction. Until motion takes place, the static friction adjusts itself so as to be equal to the force tending to produce motion. In any given case, there is a limiting value to the frictional force. Limiting friction is independent of the area of contact. Limiting friction is directly proportional to the normal reaction.

www.assorted4all.tk