A REPORT

COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION BETWEEN TWO SURFACE

EXPERIMENT NUMBER: 4

PREPARED BY

ABUBAKAR OSIKHUEMHE AL-MUSTAPHA 242040011

DAVID USMAN UZOH 20230145

REDIET KANYA 20233466

DAVID AYEBA-ENENIMIETE 20231574

DEPARTMENT: ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED TO

INSTRUCTOR NAME: SHUAIBU USMAN ALLU

DATE: DECEMBER 11th, 2024

Table of Content

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Title……………………………………………………………………………………..3

Objective………………………………………………………………………………..3

Apparatus……………………………………………………………………………….3

Theory…………………………………………………………………………………..8

Procedure……………………………………………………………………………….8

Observations……………………………………………………………………………10

Observation Table………………………………………………………………………10

Calculation……………………………………………………………………….……..10

Precautions……………………………………………………………………………..13

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..11

Reference………………………………………………………………………………11

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TITLE

Co-efficient of Friction Between Two Surfaces

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this experiment was to determine the upward and downward forces acting on a

surface as well as to prove the equation below:

W = mgsinѲ

Where m = mass, g = acceleration due to gravity.

APPARATUS

1. An inclined plane with a pulley

Figure 1. Inclined plane with a pulley[1]

2. A roller

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 Figure 2. Roller [2]

3. A pan

Figure 3. Pan

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4. A weight box

Figure 4. Weight Box

5. Strong Thread

Figure 5. Thread

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6. Meter scale

Figure 6. Meter Scale

7. Weight Balance

Figure 7. Weight Balance

8. Adjuster

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 Figure 8. Adjuster

9. Protractor

Figure 9. Protractor

THEORY

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 For an object resting on an inclined plane, there are two components of the gravitational

force acting on the object: one parallel to the plane and one perpendicular to the plane. The

parallel component of gravity that tries to slide the object down the inclined plane is given by:

F = mgsinѲ.

Weights are added to the object or system to increase the normal force, thereby increasing the

frictional force in a controlled manner. The change or increase in the weight of the object leads

to an increase in the normal force, which in turn increases the frictional force. The equation

below shows how the upward was calculated in the experiment:

W 1 = m1 x g

Where m1 = mass of the pan with the added weight and g = acceleration due to gravity.

While the downward force follows the equation below:

W 2 = m2 x g

Where m2= mass of the pan with the remaining weight in the pan and g = acceleration due to

gravity.

PROCEDURE

1. The apparatus was placed on a table and the base of the inclined plane was made sure to

be at horizontal surface.

2. The inclined plane was brought to a horizontal position so that the angle of inclination

was at zero.

3. The weight of the roller, m was found with the aid of a weight balance then it was placed

on the inclined plane in the middle.

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4. An end of a thread was tied to a roller placed on the inclined plane and was passed over

the pulley.

5. The mass of the pan was found with the aid of a weight balance and the tied to the free

end of the thread.

6. The inclined plane was raised and fixed at an angle of 200. After which the roller started

rolling down with an acceleration.

7. Weights were then added and increased consistently till the roller just started moving

upward with uniform velocity only on tapping. The mass added to the pan was noted and

the total mass m1 was calculated as the sum of mass added on the pan and the mass of the

pan.

8. Weights were then removed from the pan till the roller just started moving downward

with uniform velocity. The mass added in the pan was noted and the total mass m2 was

found as the sum of mass added in pan and mass of pan.

9. The downward force, W was found to be the mean value of m1 and m2 multiplied with

acceleration due to gravity. G acting on the roller of mass m.

10. It was proved that in each case, the downward force acting on a body, W is found to be

equal to mgsinѲ.

11. A graph was drawn with sinѲ along x axis and W along y axis and it showed a straight

line.

12. The angle of inclination was increased in steps of 5O each making it 25o, 30o, 35o and 40o.

13. The observations were then recorded.

OBSERVATIONS

Observed weight of the roller = 388.93g

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Observed weight of the pan = 26.60g

OBSERVATION TABLE

Table 1. Angle Of Inclination and Weights in Pan

S/N Angle of Sin Ѳ Force acting on roller W= mgsinѲ

inclination degrees W1 = m1g W2= m2g (W1+W2)/2

Ѳ (o) (g) (g) (g)

1. 20 0.342 2222.9 1241.9 1732.4 1304.9

2. 25 0.423 2222.9 1241.9 1732.4 1612.5

3. 30 0.500 2713.4 1732.4 2222.9 1907.7

4. 35 0.574 2713.4 1732.4 2222.9 2188.4

5. 40 0.643 3203.9 2222.9 2713.4 2452.5

CALCULATIONS

Sin Ѳ degrees

Sin 20 = 0.342

Sin 25 = 0.423

Sin 30 = 0.500

Sin 35 = 0.574

Sin 40 = 0.643

Upward force (W1)

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1. M1 = 200 + 26.6 = 226.6g

3. M1 = 250 + 26.6 = 276.6g

5. M1 = 300 + 26.6 = 326.6g

W1 = m1g

1. W1 = 226.6 X 9.81 = 2222.9

2. W1 = 276.6 X 9.81 = 2713.4

3. W1 = 326.6 X 9.81 = 3203.9

Downward force (W2)

W2= m2g

1. W2 = 126.6 x 9.81 = 1241.9

2. W2 = 176.6 x 9.81 = 1732.4

3. W2 = 226.6 x 9.81 = 2222.9

W = (W1+W2)/2

1. W = (2222.9 + 1241.9)/2 = 1732.4

2. W = (2713.4 + 1732.4)/2 = 2222.9

3. W = (3203.9 + 2222.9)/2 = 2713.4

mgsinѲ

1. 388.93 x 9.81 x sin 20 = 1304.9

2. 388.93 x 9.81 x sin 25 = 1612.5

3. 388.93 x 9.81 x sin 30 = 1907.7

4. 388.93 x 9.81 x sin 25 = 2188.4

PRECAUTION

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1. Ensure that the thread pass over the pulley.

2. Avoid zero error in reading the angle of inclination.

3. Ensure that the adjuster is properly tightened.

4. Ensure that the inclined plane is at horizontal surface.

5. Make sure the angle of inclination at horizontal surface is equal to 0O.

CONCLUSION

The upward and downward forces, W1 and W2acting on a surface were calculated and in

turn proved the relation that W = mgsinѲ. The table also showed that the coefficient of

friction increases with the angle of inclination of the plane which is consistent with its

expected behaviour.

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REFERENCE

[1] “Inclined Plane with Pulley - Force & Motion - Physics,” Parcoscientific.com, 2024.

https://parcoscientific.com/physics/force-motion/inclined-plane-with-pulley.html

(accessed Dec. 12, 2024).

[2] “Roller for Inclined Plane,” VWR, 2019. https://us.vwr.com/store/product/8886185/roller-

for-inclined-plane (accessed Dec. 12, 2024).

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