FORM THREE 2.

0 CAUSES OF FRICTION Where is the coefficient of

FORCE; friction. When the surface are
i. Surface roughness; all

FRICTION
By juma a.mkiwa
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Causes of friction
3. Laws of friction
4. Types of friction
5. Coefficient of friction
6. Advantages &
disadvantages of friction
7. Increasing & reducing
friction
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Friction:
Is the type of force which
tends to oppose relative
motion between two surfaces
in contact or tendency of
motion between two surfaces
in contact.
When two bodies are in
contact their molecules are so
close so as to establish
attractive force known as
adhesive force, so far any
movement between such
bodies should overcome those
adhesive forces.
Viscosity is the friction force
between fluids in relative
motion or between a solid
moving in a fluid.
surfaces are rough. When
the ridges of one surface
get struck in the grooves
of the other, a form of
mechanical bond is
created.
ii. Adhesive force; this is
an attraction force
between molecules or
atoms of the two surfaces
in contact.
iii. Deformation; soft
materials will deform
when under pressure and
so increase the resistance
to motion. For example,
rubber tires flatten out at
the area on contact with
the road.
3.0 LAWS OF FRICTION.
These are laws governing
Frictional force these include
1. Frictional Force is directly
proportional to the force
holding the two surface
together. This force is
equal to the normal
reaction(R) between the
two surface in contact
.
=
Where = Friction Force
R = Normal reaction and
= Coefficient of friction force which is equal weight of
Note: The coefficient of
friction depends on the types
materials in contact.
horizontal, R=mg
The coefficient of friction is a
constant which is equal to the
functional force per unit
normal reaction between two
surfaces.
The coefficient of friction
between surfaces determines
the friction force between
surfaces caused by unit
normal force.
2. Friction depends on the
nature (roughness) of the
surfaces in contact
3. Friction is independent of
the area in contact.
4. Friction is independent of
speed when one of the
surfaces is moving
OR Friction is
independent of the
speed once an object
has been set in motion.
NORMAL REACTION
Normal reaction (R) is that
a body in magnitude but
opposite in direction.
4.0 TYPES OF FRICTION

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There are two main types of
friction:
i. Static friction and
ii. dynamic
4.1 Static Friction
This one occurs when the
bodies are trying to move
relative to one another but not
yet moving. The coefficient of
static friction is denoted by
. Likewise the coefficient of
4.2 Dynamic (or kinetic)
Friction
1. It occurs when the bodies
in contact are already
moving relative to one
another. The coefficient of
static friction is denoted
by .
Note;
The coefficient of dynamic
friction is less than the
coefficient of static friction
2. Usually it requires less
force for keeping an object
against friction that is already
moving in motion than to
make it start moving.
5.0 COEFFICIENT OF
FRICTION
From the law of friction we
have seen that
Therefore
The coefficient of friction is
the scalar value which
describes the ratio of the force
of friction between two bodies
and the force pressing them
together.
The coefficient of static
Friction given by
dynamic friction is
given by
Forces acting an
object on an
inclined plane
Consider a body of mass M
that is placed on an inclined
plane whose angle of
inclination is .
There are three forces acting
on a body
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The gravitation force
(mg) which act straight
down.
The normal force (R)
exerted on the object
by the inclined, and
The friction force,
which act parallel to
the inclined. Since the
object would tend to
slide down the incline
the friction force act
up the incline.
The component of weight
parallel to the inclined plane is
given by . This
horizontal component tend to
pull the object down the slope.
The second component of the
object weights. The vertical
components is perpendicular
to the inclined plane and is
equal to . This is
equal in magnitude to the
normal reaction.
When the object is just about
to start sliding down the slope
Ff = mg sin and R = mg cos
Examples
1. A block of mass 270kg
is pulled on a
horizontal surface. If
the coefficient of
kinetic friction
 between the one block But R = mg
and the surface is 0.4
.What is the force Fs = s x mg
acting on the block as
it slide? 4.4 = s x 2kg x 10
N/kg
0.22 = s
Solution
s = 0.22
Mass m = 270 kg,
Limiting friction
K = 0.4, g = 10n/kg
It is special type of static
K = FK/R friction
Fk =? Limiting friction is defined as
the maximum static friction
Fk = k x R which must overcome before
body starts to move.
But R = mg
Limiting friction FR =
FK = K x mg=0.4 x270 kg Coefficient of friction
x 10N/Kg Norman reaction
FK= 1080N = 4. Heat cause by friction
2. A box of mass 2kg rests = burn.
on a horizontal surface a force
of 4.4N is required to just start ADVANTAGES OF
the box moving what is the FRICTION
coefficient of static friction
between the box and the 1. It enables us to walk, also
surface? Take g = 10 N/kg in movement of car tyres,
i.e. it facilitate motion on
Solution surfaces, if the surface is
completely frictionless it
Mass m = 2kg will be slippery and
motion will not be
Fs = 4.4N possible.
2. Moving objects are
g= 10 n /kg brought to stop by
application of brakes
s =? which makes use frictional
force.
Fs = s x R 3. Used to wear out
unneeded layer part during
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sharpening and grinding of
metal parts. For example
sharpening of knives,
swords and blades.
4. Lighting a matchstick is
possible due to friction.
5. Washing dishes and other
solid materials is possible
because of friction.
DISADVANTAGES OF
FRICTION
1. Friction between
movable parts of
machines causes wear
and tear in the
machines.
2. Friction leads to loss
energy in the form of
heat and or sound in
machines ref
industrial.
3. It cause moving bodies
to slow down
cause appliances to
5. Due to friction we
have to exert more
power in a machines.
Hence the machines
consume more fuel
which is the money
loss.
INCREASING FRICTION
As we saw earlier some
advantages and therefore
sometimes its necessary to
increase the frictional force
how?
1. By increasing the normal
force (i.e. Reaction).
Between the surface in
contact. This can be
achieved by pressing the
surface together.
2. Changing the roughness of
the surface in touch e.g.
car type tyre increase
friction between the tyre
and the road also spices on
football shoes increase
friction between the shoes
and the football pith/
Ground. Adding grit to a
sand paper improves it
scrubbing ability
3. Scrubbing equipment is
made rough to increase
friction e.g. Steel wire for
scrubbing surface
4. By using materials with a
high coefficient of friction
e.g. Rubber which used in
making car tyres has a
high coefficient of friction
( = . , =1). wooden floor. If the
REDUCING FRICTION
We came cross some
disadvantage of friction and
hence there are situation
where we have to minimize
the friction. How?
1. By using lubricants e.g.
Oils, water and greases
helps to reduce tear and
ware in machine parts.
2. Using speedy materials
e.g. Teflon which have a
low coefficient of friction
( = 0.038, =0.04).and 1. Find the coefficient static
thus slide easily.
Note; Teflon is a type of
plastic that slide easily.
3. By using ball bearings and
rulers. These are reducing
the points of the
contraction the object
hence changing sliding
friction into much smaller
rutting friction.
4. One technique used by
railroad engineers is to
back up the train to create
slack in the linkage
between cars. This allows
the train to pull forward
and only take on static
friction of one car at a
time, instead of all cars at
once, thus spreading the
static frictional force out
over time.
Examples
A box of mass 5kg at rest on a
on an inclined plane of angle
coefficient of static friction
between the box and the floor
0.6, what minimum external
force is required to set the box
sliding (g = 10 /kg)
Solution
Fs = sR
= 0.6 X 5 kgX10N/kg
=30N
Exercise
on the table top with a force of
friction between a block of
wood of mass 10 kg
placed on a lade. A
minimum fore of 50N is
required to make the block
just moved on the table.
2. A mass is placed on an
inclined plane such that if can
move at constant speed when
slightly happened. If the angel
on the plane makes with the
horizontal plane is 30. Find
the coefficient of dynamic
function
What is the normal reaction of
a body of mass 10kg placed
300
Form three Test 12
QUESTION 4
a) What is friction?
b) State any two advantages
and two disadvantages of
friction
c) What are the ways of
reducing friction?
d) A wooden block is pulled
15N. If its mass is 2kg,
calculate the coefficient of
friction.

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Form three Test 06
QUESTION 6 BY Dr.
(a) Distinguish between
dynamic friction and normal Doppler
reaction
Physics teacher at
(b) State the laws of friction kirima sec school
@2017
A wooden block of 2kg
rests on an inclined plane of
400 with the horizontal

(i) Using a diagram show

the forces acting on the block.

(ii) Calculate the frictional

force and the normal reaction;

(iii) Calculate the coefficient

of dynamic friction.

Form four Test 7

QUESTION 3

(a) Briefly explain the two

types of friction
(b) A box of mass 20Kg
rest on a horizontal surface. A
force of 44N is required to just
start the box moving. What is
the coefficient of static
friction between the box and
the surface? References

Explain three methods 1.

of reducing friction 2.

THE END OF
FRICTION

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