Friction Lab

AP Physics 1

Kyrsten Enseki, Jessica Smith, Jacey Wells

11.20.2015

Purpose:
The purpose of the completed friction lab was to determine what effects (if any), mass,
surface area, and surface type have on a frictional force, as well as the coefficient of
friction between the two surfaces. This will be tested by pulling a wooden block across a
particle and wooden board with a spring scale, then repeated with added friction caused
by sandpaper attached to the wooden block.

Background:

There are always different net forces acting upon an object. If the object is on a surface
normal force is present and acting upwards while gravity is acting downwards. There
are many other forces acting on the object depending on if the object is accelerating,
standing still, or hanging by a rope. If the object is at rest its forces are in equilibrium.
Friction is the force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact with
each other.The coefficient of friction is used to calculate the friction between to surfaces
which is what we are calculating in this lab. Static friction is between two objects that
are not moving while kinetic friction is between two objects that are moving.Static
friction is always stronger the kinetic friction.

Equipment:

Wooden Board

Spring Scale

Wooden Block (sandpaper on one side)

Various Amounts of Weights (100 g or more)

Particle Board
Procedure:

In the lab, be sure to pull your block steadily and pulling it at a constant
velocity. Start by getting all your equipment. First youll slide your wood block
across a wooden board, keeping your spring scale horizontal with the board as
you pull. Be sure to pull the block as steadily as possible to get an accurate
reading. Record the force in Newtons. Repeat this process by turning the block
on its different sides: small side and sandpaper side. In your last trial you will
add masses to your block then slide it across the wooden board. Repeat this
whole process but change the surface you slide your block across, such as
particleboard.

Data/Calculations Chart:

See calculations for example Friction Coefficient equation.

 On The Wood
Applied Force (N) Friction Coefficient
(calculated)

Fat Side .15 N .137

Skinny Side .20 N .182

Sandpaper .80 N .728

Added Weight

500g 1.2 N .200

1000g 2.20 N .202

On The Particle Board

Applied Force (N) Friction Coefficient

(calculated)

Fat Side .30 N .273

Skinny Side .20 N .182

Sandpaper .70 N .637

Added Weight

500g 1.7 N .283

1000g 2.50 N .230

Calculations:

Due to the conditions in this lab, Ff = Fa and Fn = Fg therefore,

Wood

Fat Side

= Fa / Fg = .15 N / .112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .137

Skinny Side

= Fa / Fg = .20 N / .112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .182

Sand Paper

= Fa / Fg = .80 N / .112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .728

Added Weight (500g)

= Fa / Fg = 1.2 N / .612 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .200

Added Weight (1000g)

= Fa / Fg = 2.20 N / 1.112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .202

Particle Board

Fat Side

= Fa / Fg = .30 N / .112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .273

Skinny Side

= Fa / Fg = .20 N / .112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .182

Sand Paper

= Fa / Fg = .70 N / .112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .637

Added Weight (500g)

= Fa / Fg = 1.7 N / .612 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .283

Added Weight (1000g)

= Fa / Fg = 2.50 N / 1.112 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = .230

Graphs:

Error Analysis:
Just like any other procedure done in a lab, there are many possibilities for error
throughout the process. After sliding the sandpaper side of the wooden block across the
various surfaces, the wood could have been worn down, altering the outcome during the
different trials. The jumping of the scale made it difficult to calculate the reading at
times. There could have been more varieties of weights when sliding the block to get
more of an array of answers, which is also something that would be done differently if
the lab was done again. Also, it is impossible for the pulling rate to be 100% at a constant
velocity due to human error.

Analysis Questions:

nFree Body Diagram:

1. The applied force resulting from pulling the block can be assumed to be
equal to the frictional force because when pulling the block across the varied
surfaces, there was no acceleration. No acceleration means that the frictional
force and applied force are at an equilibrium.
2. The spring scale jumps up and settles back down into a steady value as it is
being pulled because once an object has started to move, the differences of the
surfaces must run over each other. Static friction becomes kinetic friction. The
moving surfaces do not have time to form as many bonds where the surfaces are
together, so kinetic friction is less than static friction.
3. The factor that has the greatest effect on the frictional force would be the
smoothness of the surface that the wooden block is being dragged across. A
greater force is needed to move two surfaces past one another if they are rough
rather than if they are smooth. and the greatest effect on the coefficient of friction
would be
Conclusion:

In this lab our lab group found that different surfaces affect the coefficient of friction but
the addition of weights barely affect the coefficient which directly relates to the objective
we were given for the lab. If we were to do this lab a second time our group would
perform more trial with more than just 2 different weights. This would give us more data
to compare which would back up our findings from the lab.

Name Wells ?

Possible Recieved

Name/Title 1 1

Purpose/Objective 2 2

Background 4 4

Equipment List 1 1

Set-up Diagram 2 2

Procedural Summary 5 5

Data (Tables) 4 4

Calculations 4 4

Graph (u vs Fg) 3 3

Error Analysis 3 2 % Range for coefficients

Question 1 2 2
Question 2 2 2

Question 3 2 2

Question 4 2 2

Conclusion 3 2 Surface Area

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