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Mr. Hill
Physics, Period 3
14 November 2016
Purpose: To determine the coefficient of static friction between the friction block and the table
Hypothesis: No change in mass will cause a drastic change in the coefficient.
Procedures:
2. Tie one end of string to the fiction black, and tie the other end to cup after sliding the
3. Add mass to the cup until the friction block just starts to slide when released.
4. Use the spring scale to weigh the cup and friction block (with its masses).
5. Change the mass of the friction block and repeat the experiment two more times to find
Materials:
1. Stand
2. Pulley
3. Cup
4. Friction block
Bell, Ha, Hagerty 2
5. Level table
6. String
7. Weights
Data:
Without Sandpaper
Average: .34
With Sandpaper
Average: .63
Questions:
1) Write a hypothesis about models for static and kinetic friction that your investigation will
test.
2) Draw a free-body diagram of the friction block. Label all forces that act on it, including
friction.
3) Derive an equation for the coefficient of static friction in terms of the weights of the
m weight
a) m block
4) Determine the coefficient of static friction for each of the trials you performed. Enter
5) The model for static friction treats μ s as approximately constant, even as the mass of the
friction block was increased. Analyze this model using your experimental data of the
y−x
a) x (100%)
Bell, Ha, Hagerty 4
Purpose: To determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the friction block and the table
by adjusting the mass of the cup until a noticeable acceleration has occurred across the table.
Procedures:
1. Have the same setup as part 1 with the pulley, friction block, cup, and string.
2. Adjust the masses of the cup and/or friction block until there is a noticeable acceleration
of friction.
3. Measure and record the masses and the height the cup drops from its maximum possible
height directly under the pulley (mark the table with tape so the start and end place are
the same).
4. Release the friction block and measure the time it takes for the cup to fall the distance (do
several trials).
Materials:
1. Stand
2. Pulley
3. Cup
4. Friction block
5. Level table
6. String
7. Weights
Bell, Ha, Hagerty 5
Data:
Experimental Constants
Without Sandpaper
With Sandpaper
Questions:
1) Use the equations of motion to derive an equation for the average acceleration of the
friction block and cup in terms of the height h and the time t it takes the cup to fall. (Let
down be the positive direction.) Use your equation to calculate the acceleration in Table
3.
h
a) *See table for results
t2
2) Use Newton’s second law to determine the net force acting on the total system (of block
plus falling cup) from the mass of the system and the acceleration. Show your equation
3) The net force on the system equals the weight of the hanging cup minus the force of
friction. Rewrite this equation to solve for the force of friction: Fnet =
m1g-Ff
Calculate and record the force of kinetic friction for each trial in Table 3.
4) The coefficient of friction is the ratio of friction force to normal force of the block:
μk=
F f /m2 g Calculate
and record the coefficient of kinetic friction for each trial in Table 3.
5) Based on your experimental results, critique the models for static and kinetic friction.
a) Our data does support because the changes in mass do increase the coefficient.
Bell, Ha, Hagerty 7
6) Compare your data to the tabulated values for the coefficients of static and kinetic friction
in section 5.4 of your text. Using your data, evaluate the precision of the tabulated
coefficients.
a) The average of our coefficient of static friction without the sandpaper was 0.34
and the tabulated value in the textbook shows the average to be about 0.5 which is
precisely 0.16 of a difference from the tabulated value in the textbook. The
average of our coefficient of kinetic friction without the sandpaper was 0.31,
which is precisely 0.01 of a difference from the tabulated value in the textbook.
Bell, Ha, Hagerty 8
Purpose: The experiment was to place an object on an inclined plane and see at which angle the
Hypothesis: The coefficient of static friction will be larger on the sandpaper side of the block
rather than the wood side of the block because the sandpaper adds friction from the block against
the board. Tapping the board as it is raised will cause the coefficient to decrease as the height of
the board will be shorter due to the increased friction pushing the block downward.
Procedures:
1. Put your friction block on a board, and slowly tilt the board up until the block just begins
to slip.
2. Using a meter stick, measure the horizontal distance x and the vertical distance y.
4. Repeat these steps above, except have a partner tap the board constantly as you approach
5. Adjust the board angle so that the friction block slides at constant speed.
7. Do these steps for both the smooth and the sandpaper side of the friction block.
Materials:
1. Level table
2. Meter stick
3. Friction block
Bell, Ha, Hagerty 9
4. Stand
5. Flat Board
Data:
F f
μ static = N
= y /x
x= 58.6 m
Questions:
2) Does the force of sliding friction between two surfaces depend on whether the supporting
a) The force of sliding friction between two surfaces does depend on whether the
3) Does the coefficient of sliding friction between two surfaces depend on whether the
a) The coefficient of sliding friction between two surfaces does not depend on
a) Questions 2 and 3 are different because question 2 deals with the effect of the
force of sliding friction rather than how question 3 deals with the coefficient of
sliding friction between two surfaces and its effect on an incline. The difference is
also that the coefficient of kinetic friction is the ratio of the force of sliding