Physics

Friction

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Table of Content

1. Introduction.
2. Types of friction.
3. Graph of friction.
4. Friction is a cause of motion.
5. Advantages and disadvantages of friction.
6. Methods of changing friction.
7. Angle of friction.
8. Resultant force exerted by surface on block.
9. Angle of repose.
10. Calculation of necessary force in different conditions.
11. Acceleration of a block against friction.
12. Work done against friction.
13. Motion of two bodies one resting on the other.
14. Motion of an insect in the rough bowl.
15. Minimum mass hung from the string to just start the
motion.
16. Maximum length of a hung chain.
17. Coefficient of friction between body and wedge.
18. Stopping of block due to friction.
19. Stopping of two blocks due to friction.
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 20. Velocity at the bottom of rough wedge.
21. Sticking of a block with accelerated cart.
22. Sticking of a person from the wall of rotor.

1. Introduction.
If we slide or try to slide a body over a surface the motion is resisted by a bonding between the body
and the surface. This resistance is represented by a single force and is called friction.
The force of friction is parallel to the surface and opposite to the direction of intended motion.

2. Types of Friction.
(1) Static friction: The opposing force that comes into play when one body tends to move over the
surface of another, but the actual motion has yet not started is called static
friction. R
P
(i) If applied force is P and the body remains at rest then static friction F = P. F

(ii) If a body is at rest and no pulling force is acting on it, force of friction on it is
mg

zero.

(iii) Static friction is a self-adjusting force because it changes itself in accordance with the applied
force.
(2) Limiting friction: If the applied force is increased the force of static friction also increases. If the
applied force exceeds a certain (maximum) value, the body starts moving. This maximum value of
static friction up to which body does not move is called limiting friction.
(i) The magnitude of limiting friction between any two bodies in contact is directly proportional to the
normal reaction between them.
Fl  R Or Fl   s R
(ii) Direction of the force of limiting friction is always opposite to the direction in which one body is
at the verge of moving over the other
(iii) Coefficient of static friction: (a)  s is called coefficient of static friction and defined as the ratio of
F
force of limiting friction and normal reaction  s 
R

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(b) Dimension: [M 0 L0 T 0 ]
(c) Unit: It has no unit.
(d) Value of  s lies in between 0 and 1
(e) Value of  depends on material and nature of surfaces in contact that means whether dry or wet
; rough or smooth polished or non-polished.
(f) Value of  does not depend upon apparent area of contact.

(3) Kinetic or dynamic friction: If the applied force is increased further and sets the body in motion,
the friction opposing the motion is called kinetic friction.
(i) Kinetic friction depends upon the normal reaction.
Fk  R or Fk   k R where  k is called the coefficient of kinetic friction

(ii) Value of  k depends upon the nature of surface in contact.

(iii) Kinetic friction is always lesser than limiting friction Fk  Fl  k   s

i.e. coefficient of kinetic friction is always less than coefficient of static friction. Thus we require more
force to start a motion than to maintain it against friction. This is because once the motion starts
actually; inertia of rest has been overcome. Also when motion has actually started, irregularities of
one surface have little time to get locked again into the irregularities of the other surface.
(iv) Types of kinetic friction
(a) Sliding friction: The opposing force that comes into play when one body is actually sliding over
the surface of the other body is called sliding friction. e.g. A flat block is moving over a horizontal
table.
(b) Rolling friction: When objects such as a wheel (disc or ring), sphere or a cylinder rolls over a
surface, the force of friction comes into play is called rolling friction.
 Rolling friction is directly proportional to the normal reaction (R) and inversely proportional to the
radius (r) of the rolling cylinder or wheel.
R
Frolling   r
r
 r Is called coefficient of rolling friction. It would have the dimensions of length and would be measured
in meter.
a. Rolling friction is often quite small as compared to the sliding friction. That is why heavy loads are
transported by placing them on carts with wheels.
b. In rolling the surfaces at contact do not rub each other.

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 c. The velocity of point of contact with respect to the surface remains zero all the times although
the center of the wheel moves forward.

3. Graph between Applied Force and Force of Friction.

(1) Part OA of the curve represents static friction (Fs ) . Its value increases linearly with the applied force

(2) At point A the static friction is maximum. This represent limiting

A
friction (Fl ) .

Force of friction
B C

(3) Beyond A, the force of friction is seen to decrease slightly. The Fs

Fl Fk
portion BC of the curve therefore represents the kinetic friction (Fk ) .

(4) As the portion BC of the curve is parallel to x-axis therefore kinetic O Applied force
friction does not change with the applied force, it remains constant,
and whatever be the applied force.

4. Friction is a Cause of Motion.

It is a general misconception that friction always opposes the motion. No doubt friction opposes the
motion of a moving body but in many cases it is also the cause of motion. For example :
(1) In moving, a person or vehicle pushes the ground backwards (action) and the rough surface of
ground reacts and exerts a forward force due to friction which causes the motion. If there had been
no friction there will be slipping and no motion.

Friction

Action

(2) In cycling, the rear wheel moves by the force communicated to it by pedaling while front wheel
moves by itself. So, when pedaling a bicycle, the force exerted by rear wheel on ground makes force
of friction act on it in the forward direction (like walking). Front wheel moving by itself experience
force of friction in backward direction (like rolling of a ball). [However, if pedaling is stopped both
wheels move by themselves and so experience force of friction in backward direction.]

While pedalling Pedalling is stoped

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 (3) If a body is placed in a vehicle which is accelerating, the force of friction is the cause of motion of
the body along with the vehicle (i.e., the body will remain at rest in the accelerating vehicle until
ma   s mg). If there had been no friction between body and vehicle the body will not move along
with the vehicle.
a
smg ma

From these examples it is clear that without friction motion cannot be started, stopped or transferred
from one body to the other.

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Friction.

(1) Advantages of friction
(i) Walking is possible due to friction.
(ii) Two body sticks together due to friction.
(iii) Brake works on the basis of friction.
(iv) Writing is not possible without friction.
(v) The transfer of motion from one part of a machine to other part through belts is possible by
friction.
(2) Disadvantages of friction
(i) Friction always opposes the relative motion between any two bodies in contact. Therefore extra
energy has to be spent in overcoming friction. This reduces the efficiency of machine.
(ii) Friction causes wear and tear of the parts of machinery in contact. Thus their lifetime reduces.
(iii) Frictional force result in the production of heat, which causes damage to the machinery.

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6. Methods of Changing Friction.
We can reduce friction
(1) By polishing.
(2) By lubrication.
(3) By proper selection of material.
(4) By streamlining the shape of the body.
(5) By using ball bearing.
Also we can increase friction by throwing some sand on slippery ground. In the manufacturing of
tyres, synthetic rubber is preferred because its coefficient of friction with the road is larger.

7. Angle of Friction.
Angle of friction may be defined as the angle which the resultant of limiting friction and normal
reaction makes with the normal reaction.
By definition angle  is called the angle of friction S R

F
tan   F P
R
F
 tan  =  [As we know  ] mg
R
or   tan 1 ()
Hence coefficient of limiting friction is equal to tangent of the angle of friction.

8. Resultant Force Exerted by Surface on Block.

In the above figure resultant force S  F 2  R 2
S  (mg) 2  (mg) 2

S  mg  2  1
When there is no friction (  0) S will be minimum i.e., S = mg

Hence the range of S can be given by, mg  S  mg  2  1

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9. Angle of Repose.
Angle of repose is defined as the angle of the inclined plane with horizontal such that a body placed
on it is just begins to slide.
By definition  is called the angle of repose.
R F
In limiting condition F  mg sin 
and R  mg cos  mg sin 

F 
mg cos 
So  tan   mg
R
F F
    tan   tan  [As we know    tan  ]
R R
Thus the coefficient of limiting friction is equal to the tangent of angle of repose.
As well as    i.e. angle of repose = angle of friction.

10. Calculation of Necessary Force in Different Conditions.

If W = weight of the body,  = angle of friction,   tan   coefficient of friction

then we can calculate necessary force for different condition in the following manner :
(1) Minimum pulling force P at an angle  from the horizontal
P
By resolving P in horizontal and vertical direction (as shown in figure)

For the condition of equilibrium
F  P cos  and R  W  P sin 
By substituting these value in F  R
R
P sin
P cos    (W  P sin  )
F P cos
sin 
 P cos   (W  P sin  ) [As   tan  ]
cos 
W
W sin 
 P
cos (   )
P

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(2) Minimum pushing force P at an angle  from the horizontal
By Resolving P in horizontal and vertical direction (as shown in the figure)
For the condition of equilibrium
F  P cos  and R  W  P sin 
By substituting these value in F  R
 P cos    (W  P sin  ) R

sin  P cos
 P cos   (W  P sin  ) [As   tan  ] F
cos 
W sin  P sin
 P W
cos (   )

(3) Minimum pulling force P to move the body up an inclined plane

By Resolving P in the direction of the plane and perpendicular to the plane (as shown in the figure)
For the condition of equilibrium R + P sin
P
R  P sin   W cos   P cos

 R  W cos   P sin  F + W sin

and F  W sin   P cos  


W cos

 F  P cos   W sin 
By substituting these values in F  R and solving we get
W sin (   )
P
cos (   )

(4) Minimum force on body in downward direction along the surface of inclined plane to start its
motion
By Resolving P in the direction of the plane and perpendicular to the plane (as shown in the figure

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For the condition of equilibrium
R  P sin   W cos  R + P sin
P F
 R  W cos   P sin  P cos

and F  P cos   W sin  +

 W cos
By substituting these values in F  R and  W

solving we get
W sin(   )
P
cos (   )

(5) Minimum force to avoid sliding a body down an inclined plane

By Resolving P in the direction of the plane and perpendicular to the plane (as shown in the figure)
For the condition of equilibrium
P R + P sin F + P cos
R  P sin   W cos  

 R  W cos   P sin 
and P cos   F  W sin  W sin  W cos
  W
 F  W sin   P cos 
By substituting these values in F  R and solving we get

 sin (   ) 
P W 
 cos (   ) 

(6) Minimum force for motion and its direction

Let the force P be applied at an angle  with the horizontal.
By resolving P in horizontal and vertical direction (as shown in figure) P

For vertical equilibrium 

R  P sin   mg
 R  mg  P sin  ….(i)
and for horizontal motion
P cos   F
i.e. P cos   R ….(ii) R + P sin

Substituting value of R from (i) in (ii) F P cos

P cos    (mg  P sin  )

mg

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  mg
P ….(iii)
cos    sin 
For the force P to be minimum (cos   sin  ) must be maximum i.e.
d
[cos   sin  ]  0   sin    cos   0
d
 tan   
or   tan 1 ()  angle of friction
i.e. For minimum value of P its angle from the horizontal should be equal to angle of friction
 1
As tan    so from the figure sin   and cos  
1 2
1 2
By substituting these value in equation (iii) 

 mg  mg 
P 
1  2
1 2 1

1  2 1  2
mg
 Pmin 
1 2

11. Acceleration of a Block against Friction.

(1) Acceleration of a block on horizontal surface
When body is moving under application of force P, then kinetic friction opposes its motion.
Let a is the net acceleration of the body R
ma
From the figure
Fk P
ma  P  Fk
P  Fk
 a mg
m

(2) Acceleration of a block down a rough inclined plane

When angle of inclined plane is more than angle of repose, the body placed on the inclined plane
slides down with an acceleration a.
R
From the figure ma  mg sin   F ma
F

 ma  mg sin   R
 ma  mg sin    mg cos  mg sin  mg cos
 mg

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  Acceleration a  g [sin    cos ]

Note: For frictionless inclined plane   0  a  g sin  .

(3) Retardation of a block up a rough inclined plane

When angle of inclined plane is less than angle of repose, then for the upward motion
ma  mg sin   F
ma
R
ma  mg sin    mg cos 
Retardation a  g [sin    cos ]
mg sin + F  mg cos
 mg
Note: For frictionless inclined plane   0  a  g sin 

12. Work Done Against Friction.

(1) Work done over a rough inclined surface
If a body of mass m is moved up on a rough inclined plane through distance s, then
Work done = force  distance
= ma  s
ma
R
= mg [sin +  cos ]s
s
 mg s [sin    cos  ]
mg sin + F  mg cos
 mg

(2) Work done over a horizontal surface

In the above expression if we put  = 0 then
R
Work done = force  distance
=Fs F P

=  mg s
s
It is clear that work done depends upon mg

(i) Weight of the body.

(ii) Material and nature of surface in contact.
(iii) Distance moved.
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13. Motion of Two Bodies One Resting on the Other.
When a body A of mass m is resting on a body B of mass M then two conditions are possible
(1) A force F is applied to the upper body, (2) A force F is applied to the lower body
We will discuss above two cases one by one in the following manner:

(1) A force F is applied to the upper body, then following four situations are possible
(i) When there is no friction
(a) The body A will move on body B with acceleration (F/m).
aA  F / m
(b) The body B will remain at rest m A F
aB  0
L
(c) If L is the length of B as shown in figure A will fall from B after time t M B

2L 2mL  1 2 
t   As s  2 a t and a  F/m 
a F  

(ii) If friction is present between A and B only and applied force is less than limiting friction (F < Fl)
(F = Applied force on the upper body, Fl = limiting friction between A and B, Fk = Kinetic friction between A
and B)
(a) The body A will not slide on body B till F  Fl i.e. F   s mg
F
(b) Combined system (m + M) will move together with common acceleration a A  a B 
M m

(iii) If friction is present between A and B only and applied force is greater than limiting friction (F > Fl)
In this condition the two bodies will move in the same direction (i.e. of applied force) but with different
acceleration. Here force of kinetic friction  k mg will oppose the motion of A while will cause the
motion of B.

F  Fk  m a A Free body diagram Fk  M a B Free body diagram

F  Fk of A Fk of B MaB
i.e. a A  i.e. aB 
m maA M F

 k mg B
A F  aB 
(F   k mg ) M
aA 
m Fk

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Note: As both the bodies are moving in the same direction.
MF   k mg (m  M )
Acceleration of body A relative to B will be a  a A  a B 
mM
2L 2 m ML
So, A will fall from B after time t  
a MF   k mg (m  M )

(iv) If there is friction between B and floor

(where Fl    (M  m) g = limiting friction between B and floor, Fk = kinetic friction between A and B)

B will move only if Fk  Fl and then Fk  Fl  M a B MaB

However if B does not move then static friction will work (not limiting FK
B
friction) between body B and the floor i.e. friction force = applied force Fl 
(= Fk) not Fl .

(2) A force F is applied to the lower body, then following four situations are possible
(i) When there is no friction
(a) B will move with acceleration (F/M) while A will remain at rest (relative A m

to ground) as there is no pulling force on A. M

L F
B
F
a B    and a A  0
M
(b) As relative to B, A will move backwards with acceleration (F/M) and so will fall from it in time t.

2L 2 ML
 t 
a F
(ii) If friction is present between A and B only and F < Fl
(where F = Pseudo force on body A and Fl = limiting friction between body A and B)
F
(a) Both the body will move together with common acceleration a 
M m
mF
(b) Pseudo force on the body A, F   ma  and Fl   s mg
mM
mF
(c) F   Fl    s mg  F   s (m  M ) g
mM
F
So both bodies will move together with acceleration a A  a B  if F   s [m  M ] g
mM
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(iii) If friction is present between A and B only and F > Fl
(where Fl = s (m + M)g = limiting friction between body B and surface)
Both the body will move with different acceleration. Here force of kinetic friction  k mg will oppose
the motion of B while will cause the motion of A.

ma A  k mg Free body diagram F  Fk  Ma B Free body diagram

i.e. a A   k g of A i.e. of B MaB

A maA FK
[F   k mg ]
Fk aB  B
M

Note: As both the bodies are moving in the same direction

Acceleration of body A relative to B will be
 F   k g(m  M ) 
a  a A  a B   
 M 
Negative sign implies that relative to B, A will move backwards and will fall it after time
2L 2 ML
t 
a F   k g(m  M )

(iv) If there is friction between B and floor: The system will move only if F  Fl' then replacing F by
F  Fl . The entire case (iii) will be valid.

However if F  Fl the system will not move and friction between B and floor will be F while between
A and B is zero.

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14. Motion of an Insect in the Rough Bowl.
The insect crawl up the bowl up to a certain height h only till the component of its weight along the
bowl is balanced by limiting frictional force.
Let m = mass of the insect, r = radius of the bowl,  = coefficient of friction
for limiting condition at point A
R  mg cos  ......(i) and Fl  mg sin  ......(ii)
Dividing (ii) by (i)
r
O
Fl
As Fl  R 

tan    Fl R
y
R
A
mg sin h
r y
2 2
r
  or y  mg cos
mg
y 1 2

 1   1 
So h  r  y  r 1   ,  h  r 1  
 1  2   1  2 
   

15. Minimum Mass Hung From the String to Just Start the Motion.
(1) When a mass m1 placed on a rough horizontal plane: Another mass m 2 hung from the string
connected by pulley, the tension (T) produced in string will try to start the motion of mass m 1 .

At limiting condition R
T
T  Fl F1 m1

 m 2 g  R
T
m1g
 m 2 g   m1 g
 m 2  m 1 This is the minimum value of m 2 to start the motion. m2

m2
Note: In the above condition Coefficient of friction  
m1

(2) When a mass m1 placed on a rough inclined plane: Another mass m 2 hung from the string
connected by pulley, the tension (T) produced in string will try to start the motion of mass m 1 .

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 At limiting condition
For m 2 T  m2g ...... (i)
T
R
For m 1 T  m 1 g sin   F  T  m 1 g sin   R T

 T  m 1 g sin   m 1 g cos  ......(ii) m1

m2

From equation (i) and (ii) m 2  m 1 [sin    cos ] m1g sin + F  m1g cos m2g

this is the minimum value of m 2 to start the motion m1g

Note: In the above condition Coefficient of friction

 m2 
  tan  
 m 1 cos  

16. Maximum Length of Hung Chain.

A uniform chain of length l is placed on the table in such a manner that its l' part is hanging over the
edge of table without sliding. Since the chain have uniform linear density therefore the ratio of mass
or ratio of length for any part of the chain will be equal.
m 2 mass hanging from the table
We know    [From article 5.15]
m1 mass lying on the table

 For this expression we can rewrite above expression in the following manner
length hanging from the table
 [As chain have uniform linear density] ( l – l )
length lying on the table
l
  l
l  l
l
by solving l  
(  1)

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17. Coefficient of Friction between Body and Wedge.
A body slides on a smooth wedge of angle  and its time of descent is t.

S S

Smooth wedge Rough wedge

 

If the same wedge made rough then time taken by it to come down becomes n times more (i.e. nt)
The length of path in both the cases are same.
For smooth wedge For rough wedge
1 2 1 2
S ut  at S ut  at
2 2
1 1
S (g sin  ) t 2 .....(i) S  g (sin    cos  )(nt)2 .....(ii)
2 2
[As u  0 and a  g sin  ] [As u  0 and a  g (sin    cos  )]
1 1
From equation (i) and (ii) (g sin  ) t 2 = g (sin    cos  ) (nt) 2
2 2
 sin   (sin    cos  ) n 2
 1 
   tan  1 
 n 2 

18. Stopping of Block Due to Friction.

(1) On horizontal road
(i) Distance travelled before coming to rest: A block of mass m is moving initially with velocity u on
a rough surface and due to friction it comes to rest after covering a distance S.
Retarding force F  ma  R
 ma   mg
S
v=0
 a  g . u

From v 2  u 2  2aS  0  u 2  2  g S [As v  0, a  g]

u2
 S 
2 g

17
 P2
or S  [As momentum P = mu]
2 m 2 g

(ii) Time taken to come to rest

From equation v  u  at  0  u   g t [As v  0, a   g]
u
t 
g
(iii) Force of friction acting on the body
We know, F = ma
(v  u)
So, Fm
t
mu
F [As v = 0]
t
 u 
F   mg  As t 
 g 

(2) On inclined road : When block starts with velocity u its kinetic energy will be converted into
potential energy and some part of it goes against friction and after travelling distance S it comes to
rest i.e. v = 0.
v=0
And we know that retardation a  g [sin    cos ]
S
By substituting the value of v and a in the following equation u

v  u  2a S
2 2


 0  u 2  2 g [sin    cos  ] S

u2
S 
2 g (sin    cos  )

18
19. Stopping of Two Blocks Due to Friction.
When two masses compressed towards each other and suddenly released then energy acquired by

each block will be dissipated against friction and finally block comes to rest

i.e., F × S = E [Where F = Friction, S = Distance covered by block, E = Initial kinetic energy of the
block]
P2
 FS  [Where P = momentum of block]
2m
A B
P2
 mg  S  [As F =  mg] m1 m1 m2 m2
2m
S1 S2
P2
 S 
2 m 2 g
In a given condition P and  are same for both the blocks.
2
1 S 1 m 2 
So S  2   
m S 2 m1 

20. Velocity at the Bottom of Rough Wedge.

A body of mass m which is placed at the top of the wedge (of height h) starts moving downward on
a rough inclined plane.
Loss of energy due to friction = FL (Work against friction)
u=0
PE at point A = mgh m
A
1 L
KE at point B = mv 2 h
2
m B
By the law of conservation of energy v
1
i.e. mv 2  mgh  FL
2
2
v (mgh  FL)
m

19
21. Sticking of a Block with Accelerated Cart.
When a cart moves with some acceleration toward right then a pseudo force (ma) acts on block
toward left.
This force (ma) is action force by a block on cart.
Now block will remain static w.r.t. block. If friction force R  mg a

 ma  mg [As R  ma]

F F M m
g
 a CART
 ma m R

g
 a min 
 mg

This is the minimum acceleration of the cart so that block does not fall.
and the minimum force to hold the block together
Fmin  (M  m) a min
g
Fmin  (M  m )


22. Sticking of a Person with the Wall of Rotor.

A person with a mass m stands in contact against the wall of a cylindrical drum (rotor). The coefficient
of friction between the wall and the clothing is.
If Rotor starts rotating about its axis, then person thrown away from the center due to centrifugal
force at a particular speed w, the person stuck to the wall even the floor is removed, because friction
force balances its weight in this condition.
From the figure.
F
Friction force (F) = weight of person (mg)
R FC
 R = mg mg

  Fc  mg [Here, Fc= centrifugal force]

 m  min
2
r  mg

g
  min 
r

20