Abstract:

This experiment was conducted to accomplish the objective of finding the static and sliding forces with
respect to the area, weight and the material the object was experimented on. Adding to that we determined
the friction coefficient for the rolling case implemented on the wooden block experimented on. The
wooden block has a layer of plastic hence the experiment was conducted on both the wooden and the
plastic side separately to compare the results. This experiment was accomplished by measuring the static
and sliding forces of the wooden block using a spring balance. The results of this experiment proved
quantitatively what we as students before could only measure using formulas and equations. The average
maximum force values were plotted against the normal force for each mass, and the slope was determined
to be the coefficient of static friction. Next, the average mean force was plotted against the normal force,
and this slope was determined to be the coefficient of kinetic friction. We found that all of the factors
mentioned are directly related to the coefficient friction.

Introduction:
Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. According to
velocity friction can be classified into static friction and kinetic friction. Both having different situations
where for static friction it takes place when velocity is equal to zero where else for kinetic friction it takes
place when velocity is not equal to zero. Static friction is the grating that exists between a stationary item
and the surface on which it's resting. Once the object starts to move, kinetic friction takes over. This is the
contact that exists between two items moving with respect to one another. By classification on motion,
friction can be classified into sliding friction and rolling friction. Sliding friction is the friction between
two bodies that are in sliding contact. Rolling friction is frequently substituted for sliding friction by the
use of ball and roller bearings.

Objectives:
1) To determine the static and sliding(kinetic) friction forces(FS and FK) as function of:
(a) Area
(b) Weight
(c) Material, and then to compare the friction forces (FS and FK) for different areas, weights, and
materials.
2) To compare rolling and kinetic (sliding) friction forces (FR and FK) as a function of weight.
3) To determine the friction coefficient in rolling case.

Apparatus:

One set of seven weights, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 kg with hook,

One set of six stand rods, L=100 mm, D=12mm,

One spring balance (dynamometer) 10N, 5N and 1N

One pair of wooden blocks for friction experiments,

Procedure:
For each objective a different set of experiment was conducted hence a total of 3 sets of experiment were
conducted. The following shows the procedure for each set of experiment.

Set 1-Static and sliding friction as a function of the area, the weight and the material (refer Fig. 1)

1. The small block was placed on the experiment surface with the plastic (rubber) side down. The
static and sliding forces, Fs and Fk were measured.
2. The wooden block was placed on the based surface with the wide wooden side and then the
narrow wooden side down. The measurement for Fs and Fk were repeated.
3. The measurements were repeated with the large block for friction experiments.
4. Results of Fs and Fk plotted as a function of area, weight, and material.
5. The corresponding of s and k was determined.

Fig 1 Measuring the static friction force (top) and the sliding
friction force (bottom)

Set 2-Static and sliding friction as a function of the force of gravity (refer Fig. 2)

1. The small block is placed on the workbench surface with plastic side down. After that the static
and sliding friction force is measured.
2. The weights of the block increased by adding in turn the weights of 0.1 kg, 0.2 kg, 0.5 kg and
0.8kg; the measurements repeated.
3. The results of FS, FK, S, and K plotted as a function of the force of gravity.

Fig 2 Measuring the static friction force (top) and the sliding friction
force (bottom) as a function of the force of gravity

Set 3- Rolling and sliding friction as a function of the force of gravity (refer Fig. 3)
1. The stand rods are lie down next to each other and large block were placed on the rods with the
plastic side down.
2. The horizontal pulling force measured, which maintains a uniform motion on the rolling rods as
the rolling friction force FR.
3. The weight of the block increased by adding in turn the weights 0.1 kg, 0.2 kg, 0.5 kg and 1.0 kg;
measurement repeated each turn of the weight.
4. After that the block aligned parallel to the rod axes to measure the sliding friction force FK. .
5. Graph of sliding friction force and rolling friction force are plotted as a function of the force of
gravity.

Fig 3 Measuring the rolling friction force (top) and the sliding friction
force (bottom) as a function of the force of gravity

Data/Results:

Set 1-Static and sliding friction forces as a function of the area, the weight and the material

Material
Plastic

Wooden
Small Area

Weight

Large
Small

Static
Friction
(Fs)
0.9
0.5

Kinetic
Friction
(Fk)
0.7
0.46

Large Area

Fs (N)

Fk (N)

Fs (N)

Fk (N)

0.39
0.15

0.31
0.12

0.39
0.15

0.31
0.12

Set 2-Static and sliding forces as a function of the force of gravity

Type of
Surface

Normal
Force
(N)

Stati
c
Forc
e

Kineti
c
Force

Coefficient of
Static
Friction
(s)

Coefficient of
Kinetic
Friction
(k)

0.66
0.79
0.68
0.56
0.35
0.36
0.38
0.33

0.62
0.74
0.64
0.53
0.29
0.31
0.34
0.31

(Fk)
(Fs)

Rubber

Wood

4.53
5.51
8.45
11.39
4.53
5.51
8.45
11.39

3.0
4.4
5.8
6.4
1.6
2.0
3.2
3.8

2.8
4.1
5.4
6.0
1.3
1.7
2.9
3.5

Set 3 Rolling and sliding friction as a function of the force of gravity

Type of
Surface

Mass

Kineti
c
Force

(kg)

Rubber
(Rolling)

Wood
(Sliding)

Coefficient of
Kinetic
Friction
(k)

0.0
4.53
5.51
8.45
13.36

(Fk)
0.02
0.06
0.10
0.22
0.50

0.0056
0.0130
0.0180
0.0260
0.0370

0.0
4.53
5.51
8.45
13.36

0.80
0.92
1.40
1.80
2.50

0.225
0.203
0.254
0.213
0.187

Discussion:
In the experiment, three sets were conducted in different situations. In the first set, the static and kinetic
friction were determined as a function of the area, the weight and the material used. Second set, static and
kinetic friction was determined as a function of the force of gravity. The third set was rolling and sliding
friction determined as a function of the force of gravity.

In the Set 1 Experiment, a small wooden block was used with plastic surfaced on one side of the block.
Both static and kinetic friction reading was taken in two different situations that was on rubber surfaced

and wooden surfaced. Then the wooden block was placed narrow wooden side facing down and the static
and kinetic friction reading was taken. Same steps was implemented on a larger block with greater mass.
When the small block was placed with rubber surfaced facing down the reading was greater than wooden
surfaced. This is because the different materials having different properties that makes variance in the
reading. It is also called as coefficient of friction. The coefficient is a number as a rule somewhere around
zero and one; the higher the number, the more grounded the contact. The coefficient is unique to every
pair of object. In this situation rubber has a higher coefficient number than wood which make the rubber
to have higher friction force needed to move the object. Different weight shows that greater frictional
force were needed for larger block compared to the smaller block. This shows that weight and material
type plays a major role on both static and kinetic friction. But different surface area does not give changes
to the reading because friction is generally independent of the contact area between different surfaces.
Set 2, large block was used to find the static and kinetic friction with rubber surfaced and wooden
surfaced. Then the same situation was repeated with weight added on the block with 0.1 kg followed by
0.2 kg, 0.5 kg and 0.8 kg. When the weight was added on the block, the static and kinetic friction has
resulted greater value. As the weight increased, the value increased gradually. This proves that friction is
directly proportional to weight. The power between the item and the surface, so it will be harder to push
the object over the surface if the descending power of the item, the weight, increments. This says that the
downward force is depending on the weight, when the weight increases the force needed for the object to
move getting greater. This results to large frictional force taking place between both surfaces. So the static
and kinetic friction force becomes greater than the previous situations. The rubber surface experienced
greater frictional force compared to wooden surface according to their material properties as stated that
rubber is harder to be moved compared to wood.
In the Set 3 Experiment, it is slightly different from the other two sets that we did previously. This time
we used stand rods as the surface. First we measured the horizontal pulling force with uniform motion on
the rolling rods as the rolling friction force. Then weight of 0.1 kg, 0.2 kg, 0.5 kg, and 1.0 kg was added
on the wooden block and the measurement was repeated. Same procedure was repeated accordingly by
align the block parallel to the rod axes and the sliding friction force was recorded. Rolling force states that
the term moving rubbing alludes to the resistance made by an item moving over a surface. Synonymous
terms incorporate moving drag and moving resistance. The amount of friction created by a rolling object
is less than the friction created by normal force. It is known less than different types of friction, such as
sliding friction. This situation clearly shows that the rolling friction created by the rods by substituting the
surface produces rolling force which enables the wooden block to move in smoother path. Sliding friction
is a bit high in value compared to rolling friction because of the rod placement in vertical position. By this
it concluded that rolling friction has the smallest friction value compared to other situation that we was
testing before this.
Therefore we could say that:
Static friction > kinetic friction > rolling friction for the same combinations of surfaces.
Due to inconsistent force in this experiment when pulling the block, it is best when one person pulls the
blocks 3 trials. Also some of the experiment cannot be measured, therefore a larger and more sensitive
dynamometer needed in the future. This makes the data more accurate and less erroneous.

Conclusion:

Due to inconsistent force in this experiment when pulling the block, it is best when one person pulls the
blocks 3 trials. Also some of the experiment cannot be measured, therefore a larger and more sensitive
dynamometer needed in the future. This makes the data more accurate and less erroneous. In conclusion
to my report, static frictions force will and should always be greater than that of Kinetic friction due to
that more force is needed in exerting force to be able to move an object while that of Kinetic Friction, all
it has to do is to maintain. Adding to that different material will make the frictional force vary while the
best way to reduce the frictional force to move the block would be the rolling method since insignificant
frictional force was observed in this method.

References:
1

David wood. Static friction: definition, formula and example Chapter 11. Retrieved from
http://study.com/academy/lesson/static-friction-definition-formula-examples.html (2015 July 23)
10.30pm.

How does weight of an object affect the friction it has on the surface.
Retrieved from http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/science/how-does-the-weight-of-anobject-affect-the-friction-it-has-on-the-surface.html (2015 July 23) 11pm.

Christopher Crockette (2014 Jan 13). Factor affecting friction. Retrieved from
http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/slipping-sliding/ (2015 July 23) 11:10pm.

Your dictionary. Examples of rolling friction. Retrieved from

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-rolling-friction.html (2015 July 23) 11.30pm.

Steven Holzner Physics 1 for dummies, 2nd edition. How surface area affects the force of friction.
Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-surface-area-affects-the-force-offriction.html (2015 July 23) 11:35pm.