Friction Lab

Alissa Brankey, Hannah Eng, Tori Pyle
October 2015
Physics Honors P. 5
Friction Lab
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to observe and explain how mass, surface area, movement,
and surface type affect the force of friction on an object.
Procedure: Because there are four factors being tested, this is a four part procedure.
Part 1: Friction and Mass

1. Record the mass of the wood block you are using.
2. Add a mass (ranging from 0.5 kg to 4.0 kg) to the block
3. Attach a spring scale to the wooden block. Gently pull the block, directly forward, and
read the scale. Record the measurement.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with different masses for each trial.
5. Sketch two graphs. One friction vs. mass and the other friction vs. normal force.
Part 2: Friction and Surface Area

1. Use the same wood block as in part one. Turn the block on one of its edges.
2. Add a 500 g mass to the top edge.
3. Attach a spring scale and CAREFULLY pull the block forward and record the
measurement.
Part 3: Friction and Movement

1. Add various masses to a wood block for each trial.
2. Attach a spring scale to the wooden block.
3. Record the number on the scale just before the block starts moving, otherwise known as
the static force of friction.
4. Then pull block at a constant rate to find and record the kinetic force of friction.
Part 4: Friction and Surface Type

1. Think of five different combinations of surface types to test how it affects the force of
friction between two objects.
2. Use a constant mass of 1.0 kg to add on top of the chosen block.
3. Record the static and kinetic force of friction for each combination.
Data:
Friction and Mass
Mass of Wood Block: 47.4 g = 0.0474 kg
Trial Mass added Total Mass Normal Average
Force Applied
Force
1 0.1 kg 0.1474 kg 1.474 N 0.4 N
2 0.2 kg 0.2474 kg 2.474 N 0.6 N
3 0.3 kg 0.3474 kg 3.474 N 0.9 N
4 0.4 kg 0.4474 kg 4.474 N 1.1 N
5 0.5 kg 0.5474 kg 5.474 N 1.4 N
6 1.0 kg 1.0474 kg 10.474 N 3.1 N
7 1.5 kg 1.5474 kg 15.474 N 3.9 N
8 2.0 kg 2.0474 kg 20.474 N 5.1 N
Friction and Surface Area

Trial Mass added Total Mass Normal Average
Force Applied
Force
1 0.5 kg 0.5474 kg 5.474 N 1.4 N
Friction and Movement

Trial Mass Added Average Average
Static Force Kinetic Force
1 0.50 kg 1.7 N 1.4 N
2 0.75 kg 2.4 N 1.9 N
3 1.00 kg 2.9 N 2.6 N
4 1.25 kg 4.2 N 3.1 N
5 1.50 kg 4.6 N 3.5 N

6 2.00 kg 6.8 N 4.9 N
Friction and Surface Type

Mass Added: 1.00 kg
Mass of Wood Block: 0.0474 kg
Mass of Sandpaper Block: 0.0593 kg
Mass of Mirror Block: 0.1275 kg
Block Type Surface Type Average Average
Static Friction Kinetic Friction
wood wood 3.4 N 2.8 N
sandpaper wood 6.3 N 5.8 N
glass glass 2.9 N 1.9 N
sandpaper glass 1.9 N 2.2 N
wood glass 1.1 N 1.6 N
Data Analysis:
Graphs: Friction and Mass

1. What is the relationship between mass and friction?
As shown in the friction and mass experiment, as mass of an object increases, the
force of friction upon that object also increases.
2. Does the different surface area make a significant difference? Why do you think this
may be?
The amount of surface area in contact between two surfaces does not make a
significant difference. Surface area does not affect the force of friction. According to
Newton's Second Law, a force, such as a force of friction, depends on mass and
acceleration. In turning the block on its narrower side and changing the amount of surface
area, neither mass or acceleration of the block was affected. Thus, the force of friction is
not significantly changed.
3. What can you conclude about 'Static' and 'Kinetic' friction?
In examining the data collected from part 3 of the lab, static friction is greater in
magnitude than kinetic friction. This means that it takes more force to get an object to
initially move than it takes to keep an object moving.
Conclusion:
The purpose was met. This lab showed how an object's mass, movement, and
surface type all have an effect on the force of friction applied on that object, but surface
area does not have a significant effect. From part one of the lab, it can be concluded that
as mass increases so does friction. It took 0.4N to pull the block when it had 0.5kg added
on to it, but 5.1N when it had 2.0kg added on. It takes more force to get an object to
initially move, and this was shown in part three of the lab. In other words static friction is
always greater than kinetic friction. No matter what mass was added to the block, in part
three, it the scale always read a higher magnitude right before the block started moving
than when it was being pulled at a constant speed. Part four of the lab showed how
different surface types will affect the magnitude of the force of friction; for example, it
took 5.8 N to move a sandpaper block against wood plank whereas on a glass surface it
only took 2.2 N. Generally the results of the lab concurred closely to what was
theoretically expected. Outlying errors may be due to trying to obtain a constant speed by
human power alone, sensitivity of the spring scale, and/or reading of the scale by human
estimate.
This lab exemplifies Newton's Second Law, which states that any force, including
friction, is the ratio of mass divided by acceleration. Thus mass is directly related to force
and in increasing mass, friction must also be increased as well. Changing the surface area
of an object does not affect mass or acceleration, and therefore will not affect friction.
Understanding what affects the force of friction has much application in the real
world, one of which is transportation. There is friction between the tires of a car, truck, or
other automotive, and the roadway. Changing the width of the tire, and thus increasing
the surface area of contact with the road, will not change the amount of friction. When
constructing the roads and automotive, mass, movement, and surface type must all be
taken into account for. Heavier cargoes mean more force required to get that object to
move and then that same force to make it come to a stop, causing them to have a longer
stopping time. This is why some trucks over a certain tonnage are not allowed to drive on
some roads. Also, the type of material both the tires and the road are made up of affects
the amount of friction. A dirt road will probably have more friction than a blacktop road.
Snow tires will have more friction than regular tires.
Analysis Questions:
1. If you are dragging the block at a constant velocity, what is the relationship between
the force you are applying and the force of friction?
The magnitude of the forces are equal.
2. If you are dragging a box across the floor, and somebody jumps onto it, will
the box be harder to pull?
Yes, the box will be harder to pull because more mass has been added.

Friction Lab

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Friction Lab

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Friction Lab

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alissa Brankey, Hannah Eng, Tori Pyle

Part 1: Friction and Mass

Part 2: Friction and Surface Area

Part 3: Friction and Movement

Part 4: Friction and Surface Type

1 0.1 kg 0.1474 kg 1.474 N 0.4 N

2 0.2 kg 0.2474 kg 2.474 N 0.6 N

3 0.3 kg 0.3474 kg 3.474 N 0.9 N

4 0.4 kg 0.4474 kg 4.474 N 1.1 N

5 0.5 kg 0.5474 kg 5.474 N 1.4 N

6 1.0 kg 1.0474 kg 10.474 N 3.1 N

7 1.5 kg 1.5474 kg 15.474 N 3.9 N

8 2.0 kg 2.0474 kg 20.474 N 5.1 N

Friction and Surface Area

1 0.5 kg 0.5474 kg 5.474 N 1.4 N

Friction and Movement

1 0.50 kg 1.7 N 1.4 N

2 0.75 kg 2.4 N 1.9 N

3 1.00 kg 2.9 N 2.6 N

4 1.25 kg 4.2 N 3.1 N

5 1.50 kg 4.6 N 3.5 N

Friction and Surface Type

wood wood 3.4 N 2.8 N

sandpaper wood 6.3 N 5.8 N

glass glass 2.9 N 1.9 N

sandpaper glass 1.9 N 2.2 N

wood glass 1.1 N 1.6 N

Graphs: Friction and Mass

3. What can you conclude about 'Static' and 'Kinetic' friction?

The magnitude of the forces are equal.

You might also like