Friction
Coefficients of friction
coefficient of static friction
coefficient of kinetic friction
• do not depend upon the area of the surfaces in contact
• depend strongly on the nature of the surfaces in contact
Angles of friction
It is sometimes convenient to replace the normal force N and the friction force F by their
resultant R.
Increase Px until motion becomes impending, the angle between R and the vertical grows
and reaches a maximum value. This value is called the angle of static friction and is
denoted by ϕs
If motion actually takes place, the magnitude of the
friction force drops to Fk; similarly, the angle
between R and N drops to a lower value ϕk, which is
called the angle of kinetic friction
Angles of repose
Another example shows how the angle of friction can be used to advantage in the analysis of
certain types of problems.
If we keep increasing the angle of inclination, motion soon becomes impending. At that
time, the angle between R and the normal reaches its maximum value θ= ϕs. The value of
the angle of inclination corresponding to impending motion is called the angle of repose.
Types of problems related to friction
All applied forces are given, and we know the
coefficients of friction; we are to determine
whether the body being considered remains at
rest or slides.
• The friction force F required to maintain
equilibrium is unknown (its magnitude is not
equal to μsN) and needs to be determined,
together with the normal force N, by drawing a
free-body diagram and solving the equations of
equilibrium.
• We then compare the value found for the
magnitude F of the friction force with the
maximum value Fm = μsN.
• If F is smaller than or equal to Fm, the body
remains at rest.
• If the value found for F is larger than Fm,
equilibrium cannot be maintained and motion
takes place; the actual magnitude of the friction
force is then Fk = μkN.
Types of problems related to friction
All applied forces are given, and we know the
motion is impending; we are to determine the
value of the coefficient of static friction.
• Here again, we determine the friction force
and the normal force by drawing a free-body
diagram and solving the equations of
equilibrium.
• Because we know that the value found for F
is the maximum value Fm, we determine the
coefficient of friction by solving the equation
Fm = μsN.
Types of problems related to friction
The coefficient of static friction is given, and we
know that the motion is impending in a given
direction; we are to determine the magnitude or
the direction of one of the applied forces.
• The friction force should be shown in the free-
body diagram with a sense opposite to that of the
impending motion and with a magnitude Fm =
μsN.
• We can then write the equations of equilibrium
and determine the desired force.
Example 1
A 100-lb force acts as shown on a 300-lb crate
placed on an inclined plane. The coefficients of
friction between the crate and the plane are μs =
0.25 and μk = 0.20. Determine whether the crate is
in equilibrium, and find the value of the friction
force.
The force F required to
Step 1: First determine the maintain equilibrium
value of the friction force is an 80-lb force
required to maintain directed up and to the
equilibrium. Assuming that F right; the tendency of
is directed down and to the the crate is thus to
left, draw the free-body move down the plane.
diagram of the crate and solve
the equilibrium equations:
Example 1
A 100-lb force acts as shown on a 300-lb crate
placed on an inclined plane. The coefficients of
friction between the crate and the plane are μs =
0.25 and μk = 0.20. Determine whether the crate is
in equilibrium, and find the value of the friction
force.
Step 2: The magnitude of the
maximum friction force that
may be developed between the Because the value of the force required to maintain
crate and the plane: equilibrium (80 lb) is larger than the maximum
value that may be obtained (60 lb), equilibrium is
not maintained and the crate will slide down the
plane.
Example 1
A 100-lb force acts as shown on a 300-lb crate
placed on an inclined plane. The coefficients of
friction between the crate and the plane are μs =
0.25 and μk = 0.20. Determine whether the crate is
in equilibrium, and find the value of the friction
force.
Step 3: The magnitude of the
actual friction force:
The sense of this force is opposite to the sense of
motion; the force is thus directed up and to the right.
Example 2
A support block is acted upon by two forces as shown. Knowing that the coefficients of
friction between the block and the incline are μs = 0.35 and μk = 0.25, determine the force P
required to (a) start the block moving up the incline, (b) keep it moving up, (c) prevent it
from sliding down.
Example 2
A support block is acted upon by two forces as shown. Knowing that the coefficients of
friction between the block and the incline are μs = 0.35 and μk = 0.25, determine the force P
required to (a) start the block moving up the incline, (b) keep it moving up, (c) prevent it
from sliding down.
a. Force P to Start Block Moving Up. In this case, motion is impending up the incline, so the
resultant is directed at the angle of static friction. Note that the resultant is oriented to the
left of the normal such that its friction component (not shown) is directed opposite the
direction of impending motion.
Example 2
A support block is acted upon by two forces as shown. Knowing that the coefficients of
friction between the block and the incline are μs = 0.35 and μk = 0.25, determine the force P
required to (a) start the block moving up the incline, (b) keep it moving up, (c) prevent it
from sliding down.
b. Force P to Keep Block Moving Up. Motion is continuing, so the resultant is directed at the
angle of kinetic friction. Again, the resultant is oriented to the left of the normal such that its
friction component is directed opposite the direction of motion.
Example 2
A support block is acted upon by two forces as shown. Knowing that the coefficients of
friction between the block and the incline are μs = 0.35 and μk = 0.25, determine the force P
required to (a) start the block moving up the incline, (b) keep it moving up, (c) prevent it
from sliding down.
c. Force P to Prevent Block from Sliding Down. Here, motion is impending down the
incline, so the resultant is directed at the angle of static friction. Note that the resultant is
oriented to the right of the normal such that its friction component is directed opposite the
direction of impending motion.
Unsolved Problems
1. Two blocks A and B of weights 1 kN and 2 kN respectively are in equilibrium position as
shown. If the coefficient of friction between the two blocks as well as the block B and the
floor is 0.3, find the force (P) required to move the block B.
Ans: P = 1.11 kN
2. A cord connects two bodies of weights 400 N and 800 N. The two bodies are placed on an
inclined plane and cord is parallel to inclined plane. The co-efficients of friction for the weight
of 400 N is 0.15 and that for 800 N is 0.4. Determine the inclination of the plane to the
horizontal and the tension in the cord when the motion is about to take place, down the inclined
plane. The body weighing 400 N is below the body weighing 800 N.
Unsolved Problems
3. Referring to the Fig. given below, determine the least value of the force P to cause motion
to impend rightwards. Assume the co-efficient of friction under the blocks to be 0.2 and
pulley to be frictionless.
Hints to Unsolved Problems
Hints to Unsolved Problems
Additional example-1
Additional example 2
Additional unsolved problems
