Friction

••
Lesson at a Glance
• Friction: The force which opposes the relative motion between
two surfaces in contact is called friction. The force of friction
always opposes the applied force that may be push or pull.
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Fig. 12.1 Friction opposes relative motion between the

surfaces of the book and the table.

Friction is caused by the irregularities on the two surfaces in

contact. Irregularities on the two surfaces lock into one another
(interlocking) causing friction.

Book i/~

Table I

Booksurface

Tablesurface --+ - -!

Fig. 12.2 Surface irregularities.

90 SCIENCE-VIII FRICTION 91
• Spring Balance: It is a device used for measuring the force Friction produces heat. When a machine is operated,
acting on an object. It consists of a coiled spring, a pointer moving heat generated causes much wastage of energy.
on a graduated scale. When a force is applied, stretching of spring • We deliberately increase friction in some cases to get the
takes place. The reading on the scale indicated by the pointer desired results. For example:
gives the magnitude of the force. •. Soles of shoes are grooved. It is done to provide the shoes
• Static Friction: The force required to overcome friction at the better grip on the floor, so that we can safely.
instant an object starts moving from rest is a measure of static •. The treated tyres of cars, trucks, buses, bull-dozers provide
friction. better grip with the ground.
• Sliding Friction: The force required to keep an object moving •. Bicycles, scooters and other automobiles are provided with
with the same speed is a measure of sliding friction. The sliding .the brake system. When we press the brake lever, brake pads
friction is slightly smaller than the static friction. arrest the motion of the rim due to friction. The wheel stops
• Factors Affecting Friction: moving .
•. Friction depends on the nature of surfaces in contact. • Sometimes we want to minimise the friction. Friction can be
•. Friction is more between rough surfaces and less in smooth reduced by applying fine powder as in case of carrom. Oil,
surfaces. grease or graphite is applied between the moving parts of a
•. Friction depends on how hard the two surfaces press together. machine to reduce friction. These things avoid interlocking of
irregularities that lead to reduction offriction to a great extent .
•. Friction is independent of the area of contact.
Sometimes an air cushion between the moving parts is used
• Friction: A necessary Evil
to reduce friction .
•. Friction is essential for doing various activities of our daily
• Lubricants: The substances which reduce friction are called
life. lubricants. Lubricants form a thin layer on the moving
We could not hold articles such as glass tumbler and surfaces. So, they do not directly rub against each other.
other things without friction. It becomes very difficult
Lubricant
to hold a greasy glass.
We could not write with a pen or pencil if there is no Irregularities
friction. of surface

When we write with chalk on the blackboard, its rough

surface rubs off some chalk particles which stick to the
blackboard. It helps us to read what is written on the Fig. 12.3 Action of a lubricant.
blackboard with a chalk.
• Rolling Friction: When a body rolls over the surface of
Friction helps objects to move, stop or to change the
another body, the resistance to its movement is called rolling
direction of motion. We cannot walk without friction.
friction. Rolling reduces friction.
Without friction no building could be constructed.
• Sliding Friction: When one body slides over the surface of
~ Friction is an evil: another body, the resistance to its motion is called sliding
It wears out materials. For example, soles of shoes, ball friction. It is easier to roll than to slide a body over another.
bearings, steps of a stair, parts of machines etc. Common example is use of ball bearing between hubs and the
axles ( e various machines.
 SCIENCE-VIII FRICTION 93
92
• The uiheel is said to be one of the greatest inventions of (a) rolling, static, sliding (b) rolling, sliding, static
mankind. (c) static, sliding, rolling (d) sliding, static, rolling
• Fluids: In Science, the common name ofgases and liquids is Ans. (c) Static, sliding, rolling.
fluid. Q. 3. Alida runs her toy car on a dry marble floor, wet marble
• Fluid Friction: The force exerted by fluids on objects in floor, newspaper and towel spread on the floor. The force of
motion through them is called fluid friction. The frictional friction acting on the car on different surfaces in increasing
force exerted by fluids is also called drag. order will be
• The frictional force on an object in a fluid depends on (a) wet marble floor, dry marble floor, newspaper, towel.
~ its speed with respect to the fluid, (b) newspaper, towel, dry marble floor, wet marble floor.
~ the shape of the object, and (c) towel, newspaper, dry marble floor, wet marble floor.
~ the nature of the fluid. (d) wet marble floor, dry marble floor, towel, newspaper.
• To overcome drag objects are provided with special shape called Ans. (a) wet marble floor, dry marble floor, newspaper, towel.
streamlined. For example, shape of an aeroplane, a bird and a Q. 4. Suppose your writing desk is tilted a little, a book kept on it
fish. starts sliding down. Show the direction of frictional force
acting on it.
Ans. The book moves downwards. The frictional force is acting
opposite to the movement of book. So it acts upwards.
~
Q. 5. You spill a bucket of soapy water on a marble floor accidently.
Aeroplane Fish
Would it make it easier or more difficult for you on the floor?
Why?
Fig. 12.4 Streamlined shapes help to reduce friction.
Ans. The layer of soap makes floor smooth due to which the
friction is reduced and the foot cannot make a proper grip
TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED. on the floor. Therefore it is difficult to walk on a soapy floor
and we start to slip on the floor.
Q. 1. Fill in the blanks:
Q. 6. Explain why sportsmen use shoes with spikes.
(a) Friction opposes the __ between the surfaces in contact
Ans. Sportsmen use shoes with spike to increase the friction
with each other.
between shoes and the surface. The shoes with spike do not
(b) Friction depends on the __ of surfaces.
slip while they run or play.
(c) Friction produces .__ .
Q. 7. Iqbal has to push a lighter box and Seema has to push a
(d) Sprinkling of powder on the carrom board __ friction. similar heavier box on the same floor. Who will have to apply
(e) Sliding friction is __ than the static friction. a larger force and why?
ADs. (a) relative motion (b) nature Ans. The heavy object will be pressed hard against the opposite
(c) heat (d) reduces surface and produces more friction. So Seema will have to
(e) less. apply a larger force due to more friction.
Q. 2. Four children were asked to arrange forces due to rolling, Q. 8. Explain why sliding friction is less than static friction.
static and sliding frictions in a decreasing order. Their
Ans. The two sliding objects find less time to get interlocked
arrangements are given below. Choose the correct
against each other (objects and irregularities of surface). So
arrangement:
94 SCIENCE-VIII

they get less friction. Therefore sliding friction is always

less than static friction.
Q. 9. Give examples to show that friction is both a friend and a
foe.
Ans. Examples to show that friction is a friend and a foe:
Friction is a friend:
(i) Friction allows us to grip and catch different objects.
(ii) It helps us to walk comfortably on the surface.
(iii) It helps to minimise the speed or to stop the moving
objects.
(iv) It helps us to write on paper or blackboard.
(u) The things do not move from their place due to the
friction between the surfaces.
Friction is a foe:
(i) Friction causes wear and tear in objects.
tii) It causes damage to the parts of machines.
(iii) The machines or tools require regular maintenance due
to which a lot of money is wasted.
(iv) It reduces the speed of moving objects, so more force is
required.
(v) It does not allow the free movement of objects.
Q. 10. Explain why objects moving in fluids must have special
shapes.
Ans. The object moving in fluids must have a special shape. This
type of shape is called streamlined shape. The streamlined
shape helps to overcome the friction between objects and
fluids. The objects have pointed fronts with little broader
middle portion which gets tapered at the back.