FRICTION J3010/4/1

FRICTION

OBJECTIVES

General Objective : To understand the concept of friction.

Specific Objectives : At the end of this unit you should be able to :

recognize the difference between Coefficient of friction and

Angle of friction.

illustrate these forces involved in motion on the inclined plane

and horizontal plane by diagram.

use the formulae to solve of problem on friction.

calculate the answers using the concept of friction.

UNIT 4

FRICTION J3010/4/2

4.0 INTRODUCTION

When two bodies are in contact with one another, due to gravitational or

external forces, a force called the frictional force is exerted between the

contacting surfaces which tends to prevent movement between them. This

tendency to prevent sliding is called friction.

Coefficient of Friction

It is the ratio of the limiting friction to the normal reaction, between the two

bodies and generally denoted . Mathematically:

NRF

where is the term coefficient of friction and it is constant.

Fig. 4.1

INPUT

When a person is walking there is a

tendency for the feet to slip backwards.

Friction between the feet and the ground,

which acts in the forward direction

prevents the feet from slipping backwards.

FRICTION J3010/4/3

4.1 MOTION UP THE PLANE: PULL P PARALLEL TO PLANE

The friction force F opposes the motion of the body up the plane.

Fig. 4.2

The angle between W and RN is , the angle of the plane.

Resolving perpendicular to the plane:

cosWRN

Resolving parallel to the plane:

sinWFP

and for limiting friction:

Example 4.1

Find the pull required to move a load of 30 kg up a rough plane, the pull

being applied parallel to the plane. The inclination of the plane at 30˚ and

pull of 6 kg to a similar smooth inclined plane, would keep the same load in

equilibrium. The coefficient of friction is 0.3.

NRF

FRICTION J3010/4/4

Solution 4.1

Fig. 4.3

Given:

W = 30 kg μ = 0.3 Pull, P = 6 kg α = 30˚

Force of friction, F = 0 (smooth surface)

Let angle of inclination = θ

Resolving the force along the inclined plane,

cos 30˚ = 30 sin θ

sin θ =30

30cos6 0

=30

866.06x

= 0.1732

θ = 9˚ 58’

Resolving the forces along the inclined plane,

P = F + 30 sin 9˚ 58’

= 0.3 R + 30 sin 9˚ 58’ ----- (i)

Resolving the forces at right angle to the plane,

P = 30 cos 9˚ 58’ ----- (ii)

Substituting the value of R in equation (i)

P = 0.3 x 30 cos 9˚ 58’ + 30 sin 9˚ 58’

= 0.3 x 30 (0.9849) + 30 (0.1732)

= 14.06 kg

FRICTION J3010/4/5

4.2 MOTION DOWN THE PLANE: PULL P PARALLEL TO PLANE

Fiq. 4.4

When the body is pulled down the plane by the pull P the component of the

weight down the slope assist the pull.

Resolving down parallel and perpendicular to the plane:

NRFWP sin

and

cosWRN

If the pull P is acting up the plane (Fiq. 4.5) and resisting the downward

motion of the body, then when the body is just about to move down,

Fiq. 4.5

we have,

sinWFP

cosWRN

and

NRF

FRICTION J3010/4/6

When P = 0, the component of the weight down the slope is just able to

overcome the friction force F,

sinWF

and since,

cosWRN

therefore,

tan

cos

sin

W

W

R

F

N

but,

NR

F

thus,

tan

Example 4.2

The pull required to haul a load of 500 kg along a horizontal surface is 1.2

kN. Find the pull parallel to a track of slope 20˚ that is required to haul the

load up the inclined plane. Assuming the coefficient of friction to be the

same in all cases.

Solution 4.2

Fiq. 4.6

Given:

M = 500 kg P = 1200 N θ = 20˚

P = F (for horizontal surface) P = 1200 N

Resolving parallel to the plane:

sinWFP

020sin)81.9(5001200P

6.16771200P

kNP 87.2

FRICTION J3010/4/7

Activity 4A

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEFORE YOU CONTINUE WITH THE

NEXT INPUT…!

Fiq. 4.7

4.1 Determine the magnitude of the push P (Fig.4.7) that will have the wooden

crate on the point of sliding. Coefficient of friction between the crate and the

floor is 0.55. Wooden crate = 20.41 kg.

4.2 A 2 tonne truck is pulled at uniform speed up an inclined of 1 in 10 along the

slope by a rope, parallel to the inclined. The rope passes over a frictionless

pulley at the top of the inclined and has a 275 kg mass hanging freely at its

end. Find the resistance to motion parallel to the inclined.

4.3 A pull of 550 N parallel to an inclined plane is required to just move a mass

of 50 kg up the plane. If a pull is applied parallel to the plane to drag the

mass down at a steady speed of 4 m/s, what is the power required? The plane

is inclined at 30 to the horizontal.

4.4 A load of mass 1350 kg lies on a gradient of 60 to the horizontal. If static

friction s = 0.5 and kinetic friction, k = 0.4. Calculate:

(i) the pull parallel to the gradient required to prevent the load from

sliding down,

(ii) the pull required to haul the load up the gradient at uniform speed.

FRICTION J3010/4/8

Feedback To Activity 4A

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4.1 186 N

4.2 736 N

4.3 240 W

4.4 (i) 8.14, (ii) 14.1 kN

FRICTION J3010/4/9

4.3 THE ANGLE OF FRICTION AND TOTAL REACTION

Fiq. 4.8

Consider a body that is about to move to the right (Fiq. 4.8). The force R is

the resultant of RN and F. Since the latter are at right angles, the angle

between R and RN is given by,

N

N

N

R

R

R

F

oa

abtan

INPUT

FRICTION J3010/4/10

4.4 APPLICATION OF ANGLE OF FRICTION TO MOTION ON THE

INCLINED PLANE.

Fiq. 4.9

Fig. 4.9 shows a body being moved up a plane by means of a horizontal pull

P. Since motion is up the plane, R must have a component down the plane to

provide the resisting friction force and is therefore directed as shown. The

pull P, weight W and resultant R form a triangle of forces and since P and W

are at right angles, thus

)tan( WP

Fiq. 4.10

Figure 4.10 shows the case whose body is just about to move down the plane

against a resisting horizontal force P.

From the triangle of forces:

)tan( WP

In this case the angle of the plane is greater than the angle of friction .

FRICTION J3010/4/11

Example 4.3

A casting of mass 2 tonnes is to be pulled up a slope inclined at 30 by a pull

at an angle to the slope. If the coefficient of friction is 0.3. Find the least

force required and its direction to the horizontal.

Solution 4.3

Fiq. 4.10

From the triangle of forces:

Hence, the minimum value of P is given by:

P = W sin (30 + ) where tan = 0.3 or = 16˚ 42’

W = Mg

= 2 x 9.8

= 19.6 kN

hence,

P = 19.6 sin 46˚ 42’

= 14.25 kN

FRICTION J3010/4/12

Activity 4B

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEFORE YOU CONTINUE WITH THE

NEXT INPUT…!

4.5 A body of weight of 50 kg is hauled along a rough horizontal plane, by a pull

of 18 kg acting at an angle of 14˚ with the horizontal. Find the coefficient of

friction.

4.6 Find the horizontal force required to drag a body weighing 10 kg along a

horizontal plane, if the plane when gradually raised up to 15˚ the body will

begin to slide down.

4.7 A crate with a mass of 50 kg will just slide with uniform speed down a rough

ramp at 300 to the horizontal. Find the coefficient of friction.

4.8 A load of mass 1 Mg is to be hauled slowly at constant speed up an inclined

of 1 in 2 (sine). If the coefficient of sliding friction is 0.6. What pull parallel

to the inclined would required? If the load is placed on a trolley of mass 200

kg what would then be the pull? The coefficient of rolling resistance is 0.12

and friction at the bearing journals may be neglected

FRICTION J3010/4/13

Feedback to Activity 4B

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4.5 0.382

4.6 2.68 kg

4.7 0.576

4.8 10 kN, 7.1 kN.

FRICTION J3010/4/14

SELF-ASSESSMENT 4

You are approaching success. Try all the questions in this self-assessment section

and check your answers with those given in the Feedback on Self-Assessment 4

given on the next page. If you face any problems, discuss it with your lecturer.

Good luck.

Fiq. 4.11

1. The force F (Fig.4.11) just prevents the wooden crate of 100 kg from sliding

down the steel chute. Find F if µs for the mating surface = 0.1.

2. A load of 300 kg will just start to slide down a 25o slope. What horizontal

force will be required to haul the load up the slope at constant speed? What is

the least force required to haul the load up the incline?. State the direction of

this least force.

3. A body, resting on a rough horizontal plane, requires a pull of 18 kg inclined

at 30 0

to the plane just to remove it. It was found that a push of 22 kg

inclined at 30 0 to the plane just removed the body. Determine the weight of

the body and the coefficient of friction.

4. Find the force required to move a load of 30 kg up a rough plane, the force

being applied parallel to the plane. The inclination of the plane is such that a

force of 6 kg, inclined at 30 0, to a similar smooth inclined plane, would keep

the same load in equilibrium. The coefficient is 0.3.

FRICTION J3010/4/15

Feedback To Self-Assessment 4

Have you tried the questions????? If “YES”, check your answers now

1. 303 N

2. 3.5 kN, 2.25 kN at 50o to the horizontal

3. 99.4 kg ; 0.1726

4. 14.06 kg.

If all your answers are

correct,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

….