FRICTION
Friction is a force that resists the movement of two
contacting surfaces that slide relative to one another.
This force always acts tangent to the surface at the
points of contact and is directed so as to oppose the
possible or existing motion between surfaces.
Dry friction – is of great importance in problems
involving rigid bodies which are in contact along
nonlubricated surfaces.
- dry friction , which is sometimes called
Coulomb friction since its characteristics were studied
extensively by C. A. Coulomb in 1781.
- Dry friction occurs between the
contacting surfaces of bodies when there is no
lubricating fluid.
Characteristics of Dry Friction.
1. The frictional force acts tangent to the contacting surfaces in a
direction opposed to the motion or tendency for motion of one
surface relative to another.
2. The maximum static frictional force Fs that can be developed is
independent of the area of contact, provided the normal pressure is
not very low nor great enough to severely deform or crush the
contacting surfaces of the bodies.
∅
3. The maximum static frictional force is generally greater than the kinetic
frictional force for any two surfaces of contact. However, if one of the
bodies is moving with a very low velocity over the surface of another, Fk
becomes approximately equal to Fs, 𝜇𝑠 ≈ 𝜇𝑘
4. When slipping at the surface of contact is about to occur, the
maximum static frictional force is proportional to the normal force.
Such that Fs = 𝜇𝑠 N
5. When slipping at the surface of contact is occurring, the kinetic
frictional force is proportional to the normal force, such that Fs = 𝜇𝑠 N
3. The maximum static frictional force is generally greater than the kinetic
frictional force for any two surfaces of contact. However, if one of the
bodies is moving with a very low velocity over the surface of another, Fk
becomes approximately equal to Fs, 𝜇𝑠 ≈ 𝜇𝑘
4. When slipping at the surface of contact is about to occur, the
maximum static frictional force is proportional to the normal force.
Such that Fs = 𝜇𝑠 N
5. When slipping at the surface of contact is occurring, the kinetic
frictional force is proportional to the normal force, such that Fk = 𝜇𝑘 N
𝐹
tan∅ = 𝑁
F is a static frictional force if equilibrium
is maintained.
F is a limiting static force Fs when it
𝜇𝑠 = 𝑐𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 reaches a maximum value needed to
𝜇𝑘 = coefficient of kinetic friction maintain equilibrium
∅𝑠 = 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
F is termed a kinetic frictional force Fk
∅𝑘 = angle of kinetic friction when sliding occurs at the contacting
surface.
1. The forces applied to the body do not tend to move
it along the surface of contact; there is no friction
force.
(a) No Friction (PX = 0)
2. The applied forces tend to move the body along the surface of
contact but not large enough to set it in motion. The friction
force F which has developed can be found by solving the
equations of equilibrium for the body. Since there is no evidence
that F has reached its maximum value, the equation
Fm = s N cannot be used to determine the friction force.
(b) No motion (Px < 𝑭𝒎 )
3. The applied forces are such that the body is just about to slide.
We say that motion is impending. The friction force F has
reached its maximum value Fm and, together with the normal
force N, balances the applied forces. Both the equations of
equilibrium and the equation Fm = s N can be used. We also
note that the friction force has a sense opposite to the sense of
impending motion.
(c) Motion impending (Px = Fm )
4. The body is sliding under the action of the applied forces, and the
equations of equilibrium do not apply any more. However, F is now
equal to Fk and the equation
Fk = k N may be used. The sense of Fk is opposite to the sense of
motion.
(d) Motion ( Px > 𝑭𝒎 )
Laws of Friction
1. If friction is neglected, the reactions are always normal to the
surfaces in contact.
2. Friction always acts to oppose the motion of the free body(or its
tendency to move). It is tangent to the surfaces in contact.
3. If static friction is acting, the value of the friction force may vary
from zero to the maximum available value, depending upon the
resultant force tending to cause motion.
4. The maximum available value of static friction( i.e., the limiting
friction when motion impends) is equal to 𝜇𝑠 N where 𝜇𝑠 is the
coefficient of friction and N is the normal pressure.
5. If kinetic friction is acting, the friction force is constant at its limiting
value.
6. The kinetic friction is equal to kN where k is the coefficient of
kinetic friction and N is the normal pressure.
7. The angle between the total reaction and its normal component,
when limiting friction is acting, is called the angle of friction. The
tangent of this angle is the coefficient of friction.
𝐹
tan ∅ = 𝑁
𝐹 = 𝜇𝑠 N tan ∅ = 𝜇𝑠
𝐹
= 𝜇 𝑠
𝑁
Example: The uniform crate shown in figure has a mass of 20 kg. If
a force P = 80 kN is applied to the crate, determine if it remains in
equilibrium. The coefficient of static friction is 𝜇𝑠 = 0.3.
Py
PX
w = mg
w = 20 kg ( 9.81 m/s2)
w = 196.2 N
Nc = resultant normal force act at a distance x
from the crate’s center line in order to
counteract the tipping effect caused by P.
No tipping will occur since x < 0.4 𝑚.
Fmax = 𝜇𝑠 NC = 0.30 (236.2N) = 70.86 N
Since F = 69.2 N 70.86 𝑁, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑝
+ σ 𝑀𝑜 = 0
80N sin 300 (0.4 m) - 80N cos 300 (0.2 m) + 236.2 N (x) = 0
- 80N sin 300 (0.4 m) + 80N cos 300 (0.2 m) = 236.2 N (x)
- 2.14 N.m = 236.2 N (x)
x = - 0.00906 m
x = - 9.06 mm since x is negative it indicates the resultant normal force acts
(slightly) to the left of the crate’s center line.
Example:
The uniform 10-kg ladder in Figure rests against the smooth wall at B,
and the end A rests on the rough horizontal plane for which the
coefficient of static friction is 𝜇𝑠 = 0.3. Determine the angle of
inclination 𝜃 of the ladder and the normal reaction at B if the ladder is
on the verge of slipping.
B
h=
x x
𝑥
cos 𝜃 = 2𝑚
NA – 98.1 N = 0 X= 2.0 m cos 𝜃
w= mg = 10 kg (9.81 m/s2 = 98.1 N NA = 98.1 N
ℎ
sin 𝜃 = 4.0𝑚
h= 4.0 m sin 𝜃
B
FA – NB = 0
29.43 N = NB
+ σ 𝑀𝐵 = 0
- 98.1 N ( 2m cos 𝜃 ) − 𝐹𝐴 ( 4.0m sin 𝜃) + 98.1 (4.0 m cos 𝜃) = 0
- 196.2 N cos 𝜃 - 29.43 N (4.0 m sin 𝜃 ) + 392.4 N cos 𝜃 = 0
NA = 98.1 N 196.2 N cos 𝜃 = 117.72 N sin 𝜃
Since the ladder is on the verge of slipping, then 196.2 N cos 𝜃 117.72 N sin 𝜃
=
FA = 𝜇𝑆 𝑁𝐴 = 0.3 (98.1 N) = 29.43 N cos 𝜃 cos 𝜃
196.2 N = 117.72 N tan 𝜃
196.2 N
tan 𝜃 = 117.72 𝑁
𝜃= 59.040 Answer
