Friction Lab

AP Physics I
Nick Felix, Tyler Newell, Michael Orzechowski

Objective:
The goal of this lab is to determine what effect, if any, mass, surface area, and surface type
have on the frictional forces and the kinetic coefficient of friction between two surfaces.

Background Discussion:
The background theory of how this lab works is that friction occurs because no surface is
completely and perfectly smooth. The theory also states that objects with more mass have a
greater force of friction exerted on them, because the objects are pressed against each other
with more force (often the force of gravity). Finally the theory also states that the less smooth
the surface, the greater the force of friction will be, because there will be more “rubbing”
between the two objects. Friction is defined as the resistance to motion of one object moving
relative to another. Applied force is defined as a force that is applied to an object by a person or
another object, pushing or pulling that object. Coefficient of friction is defined as a value that
shows the relationship between two objects and the normal reaction between the objects that
FF
are involved. The equations that will be used in this lab will be 𝝻= and F g=mg.
FN

Materials List:
1.) Wood block with sandpaper and hook
2.) 3 100kg weights
3.) Long board with grooved side
4.) Lab table
5.) Spring with hook
6.) Analytical balance

Diagram of Set-up:
Procedure:
1.) Pull wood block across board, keeping the spring scale as horizontal as possible
2.) Pull wood block across lab table, and across the board on the sandpaper side (change
surface type)
3.) Place 100kg on wood block, pull across board, then repeat with 200kg and 300kg
(change mass)
4.) Pull wood block across board on its side, then repeat with grooved side of board
(change surface area)
5.) Repeat all trials and average calculations of the kinetic coefficient of friction

Data:

Mass Weight Applied Force

Wood Block 0.103kg 1.01N 0.15N

Sandpaper 0.103kg 1.01N 0.25N

Lab Table 0.103kg 1.01N 0.05N

100kg 100.103kg 982.01N 0.40N

200kg 200.103kg 1963.01N 0.70N

300kg 300.103kg 2944.01N 0.75N

Side of Wood Block 0.103kg 1.01N 0.05N

Grooved Side of 0.0103 1.01N 0.05N

FF 0.25 N
2.) 𝝻= F = 1.01 N = 0.248
N

FF 0.05 N
3.) 𝝻= F = 1.01 N = 0.0495
N

FF 0.40 N
4.) 𝝻= F = 982.01 N = 4.07∙10−4
N
 FF 0.70 N
5.) 𝝻= F = 1963.01 N = 3.57∙10−4
N

FF 0.75 N
6.) 𝝻= F = 2944.01 N = 2.55∙10−4
N

FF 0.05 N
7.) 𝝻= F = 1.01 N = 0.0495
N

FF 0.05 N
8.) 𝝻= F = 1.01 N = 0.0495
N

Graph:

(the values of the kinetic coefficient of friction for trials 3, 4, and 5 are 4.07∙10−4, 3.57∙10−4, and
2,55∙10−4 respectively.)

Error Analysis:
max−min
∙100%
4
0.248−2.55 ∙ 10−4
∙100% = 6.91%
4
 This error could have come from multiple sources. One source of error could have been
personal and could have come from not pulling the block at a constant velocity. This could have
caused the error of the applied force to be recorded as a little too high or a little too low, which
could have then led the kinetic coefficient of friction to be recorded as a little too high or a little
too low. Another source of error could have been random and could have come from errors in
the readings of the analytical balance. This could have caused the mass of the block to be
recorded as a little too high or a little too low, which could have then caused the weight of the
mass of the block to be a little too high or a little too low. Finally, this would cause the normal
force and kinetic coefficient of friction to be calculated as a little too high or a little to low.
It was found that the value for the kinetic coefficient of friction decreased as mass was
added to the wood block, when the wood block was pulled across the lab table, and when the
side of the wood block or grooved side of board were used. The value for the kinetic coefficient
of friction only increased when using the sandpaper side of the wood block.

Analysis:
1.)

Normal Force = Force

Normal
Force

Force of Applied
Friction Force

Force of
Gravity
2.) The Applied force of the block being pulled can be assumed to be equal to the Frictional
force on the block because of Newton’s third law. Newton’s third law states that for every
action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, therefore making the applied force and the force
of friction equal.
3.) The spring scale jumps up when the block first starts to move and then settles down due to
the static friction coefficient always being greater than the kinetic friction coefficient. Because of
this, it takes more force to start the block’s motion than to maintain it.
4.) According to our data, the factor that had the greatest effect on frictional force was the
weight added to the block, as the frictional force was the highest for these three trials (100kg =
0.40N, 200kg = 0.70N, 300kg = 0.75N). The factor that had the greatest effect on the coefficient
of friction was the type of surface the block was being pulled against, such as sandpaper or the
lab table (The sandpaper coefficient of friction was the highest, at 0.248).

Conclusion Discussion:
In this lab, we discovered that as you increase the mass of an object, the force of friction also
increases. As the friction increases, the amount of energy used to pull the block increases as
well. When we used the sandpaper, the friction increased, because the bumps in the
sandpaper makes the amount of force needed to move the block greater.