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FRICTION
The force acting along the two surfaces in contact which opposes the motion of one body over the other
is known as the force of friction or frictional force.
The force of friction always opposes the relative motion between the two bodies in contact irrespective of
the direction of motion.
For example, when a body is pulled by force F towards the right, the force of friction acts along the left
and when the applied force acts towards the left, the force of friction acts towards the right as shown in
figure. Here R and W represent the normal reaction and the weight of the body respectively.
Normal reaction R
Normal reaction R
F
f
W (Weight)
W (Weight)
A frictional force always acts to oppose the motion of a body over a surface and is an example of a
contact force.
When solid bodies move through liquids and gases, they also experience this opposing force of friction.
For example, a kite flying in the air, an aeroplane moving through air and a submarine moving through
water. The force of friction experienced by a body moving over some liquid surface is very small
compared to that experienced while moving over a solid surface. That is why a moving ship takes much
longer time to come to rest than a car when their engines are switched off.
Cause of Friction
Friction arises on account of strong atomic or molecular forces of attraction
between the two surfaces at the points of actual contact. On account of
roughness of surfaces, the area of actual contact is much smaller than the
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area of apparent contact. These areas are roughly in the ratio 1 : 10 . At
the contact points, the molecules of the two surfaces are so close together
that they exert very strong intermolecular force of attraction on one
another. As actual area of contact is very small, therefore, the pressure
(= force / area) at the points of contact becomes too large. So that many of
the contact points may deform plastically and becomes cold welded.
When one body tries to move over the other, it involves rupturing of
thousands of such tiny cold welds. This gives rise to opposing force of
friction.
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EFFECTS OF FRICTION
When one object moves over another object, the friction between them shows the following effects:
(i) Friction opposes Motion:
When a ball is thrown on the ground, it stops after sometime. So friction opposes motion.
(ii) Friction produces Heat:
When the palms of the hands are rubbed together for a few seconds, they become warm. Friction
produces heat.
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DISADVANTAGES OF FRICTION
Whenever there is a relative motion of two surfaces in contact, there is frictional resistance. When a body
moves over another, it has to overcome friction. This needs energy. Hence, some energy is always
wasted in overcoming friction. When two parts of a machine rub against each other, heat is produced,
and the efficiency of the machine decreases. There will be greater wear and tear in different parts of a
machine due to friction. Thus friction reduces the efficiency of machines.
ADVANTAGES OF FRICTION
From what has been discussed above, it may appear that if there were no friction, our life would have
been much easier and we would not have to spend energy in overcoming the frictional resistance.
This is not true. As a matter of fact it is only because of friction that we are able to move around. Try to
run on a very smooth surface and see what happens. As we step forward, friction opposes the forward
force, so that the foot does not slip forward force. When we raise our heel again to take another forward
pace, the friction prevents the front part of the shoe from moving back.
(ii) Polishing:
Polishing rough surfaces also reduces friction. If the surfaces are in contact are rough, there is more
friction. Hence to reduce friction, the surfaces in contact are kept smooth and polished. It is worth
nothing that if the two surfaces in contact are of the same metal, the friction increases on polishing the
two surfaces. This is why the bearing the axle is made of different metals.
(iii) Wheels:
If a suitcase is fitted with wheels, it is easier to move it because the friction between the wheels and the
ground is less.
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Wheel
revolves
Axle
Fixed
(v) Lubricants:
Use of lubricants makes the surface smooth. In machines, friction is reduced by using lubricants such as
oil, grease or graphite power. The lubricant fills the minute unevenness of the two surfaces and
separates them by forming a very thin layer in between. This layer offers very little resistance and as a
result, the friction gets reduced.
(vi) Anti-friction Metals:
When steel slides over an alloy of lead, the friction is less than when steel slides on steel. Bearings are
sometimes packed with such an alloy.
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SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE
1.
Sol.
When the brakes of a bike are on, its wheels cannot rotate. They will simply skid. Thus rolling
friction will be converted into skidding friction which is comparatively larger. Hence it becomes
difficult to move the bike.
2.
Why a horse has to pull a cart harder during the first few steps of his motion?
Sol.
During the first few steps of his motion, the horse has to pull a cart harder, because the horse has
to work against the limiting friction, whereas once the motion starts, the horse has to work against
the dynamic friction which is less than the limiting friction.
3.
Sol.
When a lubricant is added to a machine it spreads between the two surfaces rubbing
fills the irregularities present on the surfaces and forms a thin layer between the
contact. As a result of it, the contact between the two hard surfaces is replaced by
between the hard surface and lubricant layer. Due to it, the force of friction
considerably.
4.
Sol.
5.
Sol.
each other,
surfaces in
the contact
is reduced
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OBJECTIVE
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (SINGLE OPTION CORRECT)
1.
Sol.
2.
Sol.
3.
Sol.
4.
Sol.
5.
Sol.
6.
Friction is a/an
(A) Self-adjusting force
(C) Important force in daily life
D
Sol.
(B) Newton
(D) kg m/s
7.
Sol.
8.
Sol.
6
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9.
An external horizontal force P acts on a block placed on a rough horizontal surface. The
force of friction between them is f. Which of the following graphs represents the relation
between P and f correctly?
(A)
(B)
f
f
P
(C)
(D)
f
Sol.
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B.
True / False
10.
Sol.
True
11.
Sol.
True
12.
Sol.
False
13.
Sol.
True
14.
When a person walks on a rough road, the frictional force exerted by the surface on the
person is opposite to the direction of motion.
Sol.
False
The maximum value of forces which makes the surfaces just to slide is called the ____.
Sol.
Limiting friction
16.
Frictional forces also arise when solid bodies move through ________________.
Sol.
17.
Sol.
Reduce
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ASSIGNMENT
SUBJECTIVE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
If a ball is moving on a frictionless horizontal surface and no forces are applied on it, will its speed
decrease, increase or remain constant?
6.
7.
8.
9.
How does frictional force vary with change in roughness of the surfaces?
10.
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OBJECTIVE
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (SINGLE OPTION CORRECT)
1.
2.
3.
(B) kg wt
(D) none of these
(B) rough
(D) none of these
4.
The maximum force of friction when the body is just beginning to move is known as the
(A) limiting friction
(B) rolling friction
(C) static friction
(D) sliding friction
5.
The friction that exists between a surface sliding on another surface is called the
(A) dynamic friction
(B) rolling friction
(C) static friction
(D) limiting friction
6.
7.
8.
In an experiment, four students plotted graphs between force of limiting friction F and normal
reaction R, Which one is correct
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
R
9.
1 kg
2 kg
F=(12 )N
If coefficient of friction between blocks and surface is 0.1 the tension in the string would be
(A) 4N
(B) 3N
(C) 2N
(D) 1 N
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10
10.
11.
A balloon of gross weight W Newton is falling vertically downward with a constant acceleration
a(<g). The magnitude of the air resistance is
a
(A) W
(B) W 1
g
a
(C) W 1
(D) W
g
13.
14.
15.
16.
Column B
1.
Frictional force is
(a)
self adjusting
2.
(b)
3.
Rolling friction is
(c)
area of contact
4.
(d)
ANSWERS TO ASSIGNMENT
OBJECTIVE
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (SINGLE OPTION CORRECT)
1. A
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. A
6. A
7. B
8. D
9. B
10. A
11. C
FILL IN THE BLANKS
12. contact
13. oppose
14. independent
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2 (a)
3. (b)
4. (c)
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