Activity 6.

Frictional Forces
Date:___________________________

Name of group members:_______________________

Frictional forces, in general, oppose the motion of the object. They are always present
in real situations, such as those involving surfaces in contact. The amount of friction any two
surface offers depends mainly on the weight of object and the type of the surfaces in contact.
These amount of friction is determined by the equation
, where
are the
coefficient of friction and the normal force, respectively.
There are two types of frictional forces, namely static and kinetic frictional forces. Static
frictional force is the force offered by surfaces that is needed to be overcome to set an object
into motion. When the object is already in motion, the frictional force is called kinetic frictional
force. Both oppose the motion of the object. However, it is always that the static frictional
force is greater than the kinetic frictional force. Hence,
, where
, and further,
. (Walker, 2008)
Your task in this experiment is to determine the static and kinetic frictional force of
wood to wood surfaces in contact. To determine the kinetic friction, the systems involved
must be set up as in Figure 6.A, and to determine the static friction, the systems involved must
be set as in Figure 6.B, shown below.
Experimental Set up.

M
L

Figure 6.A. Set up to determine

Figure 6.B. Set up to determine

Materials:
Friction board, wooden block, set of weights, iron stand, protractor, meterstick
Procedure:
A. Determination of
1. Set the system of friction board with pulley as shown in Figure 6.A.
2. Measure the mass of the wooden block and record this as M.
3. Suspend weights m until the box moves at constant speed (in your observation). Record the mass
m in the Table 6.1.
4. Now, add 200 g on the wooden block and repeat step 3. Record m.

Activity 6. Frictional Forces

October 4, 2010

5. Do the same by adding 400g, 600g, and 800g on the wooden block. Record the corresponding
mass m and M.
6. Determine the average .
7. Now, place the block on the smaller surface, and repeat steps 3 to 6.
8. Calculate the percentage error of from the standard value for wood to wood contact
sirfaces.
B. Determination of
1. Set up the system as shown I Figure 6.B.
2. Place the wooden block on the board, 1 m from one end. Slowly raise the board until the block
starts to slide with constant speed (in your observation). Record the height in which the board is
raised in Table 6.2.
3. Record the same the angle of inclination of the board with respect to the table.
4. Now, add 200 g to the wooden block and do step 2. Record the height to which the board was
raised.
5. Do the same by adding 400 g, 600 g, and 800 g on the wooden block. Record the corresponding
height to which the board was raised.
6. Now, place the wooden block on the smaller surface, and repeat step 2.
7. Determine the

by using the equation

(experimental) and/or

(experimental).
8. Calculate the percentage error from the standard value of
surfaces.

for wood to wood contact

Data:
Table 6.1 Determination of

M = mass of the block only = __________________grams

Added weights to M
0
200 g
400 g
600 g
800 g

F (loaded weights)

Percent Error

Average
Added weights to M
0
200 g
400 g
600 g
800 g

Smaller Surface
F (loaded weights)

Average

Percent Error

( ))

Activity 6. Frictional Forces

October 4, 2010

Table 6.2 Determination of

Added weights to
M
0
200 g
400 g
600 g
800 g

.
L

Percent Error

Average
Questions:
1. Express the relation between the coefficient of friction with respect to area of the surfaces in contact.

2. What can you say about the obtained percentage error in your results? Where do you think this error
come from?

3. Derive the expression for the coefficient of static friction given by

. Start from making a
free body diagram for an object in an inclined plane at angle of with the horizontal.

Conclusion: