Engineering Mechanics-I Lab (NS-112 L)

Course Instructor (Lab)

Engr. Abdul Basit

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

THEORY
Frictional Force: Friction force is developed whenever there is a motion or
tendency of motion of one body with respect to the other body involving rubbing
of the surfaces of contact.
 Friction is therefore a resistance force to sliding between two bodies produced
at the common surfaces of contact.
 Friction occurs because no surface is perfectly smooth, however flat it may
appear.
 When the body is on the verge of motion the contact surface offers maximum
frictional force called as ‘Limiting Frictional Force’.

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

TYPES OF FRICTIONAL FORCES

Static Friction: The friction exists between two surfaces at rest is called as static
friction.
Dynamic Friction: The friction exists between two surfaces in motion is called as
dynamic friction.
Rolling Friction: When one body rolls over another body then friction exists
between them is called as rolling friction.
Coefficient of Friction (µ): Ratio of frictional force to normal reactions is always
constant & is called as coefficient of friction.

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

FUNCTIONS OF FRICTION
 It reduces the smoothness.
 One can easily walk on a rough surface than on a very smooth surface.
 A vehicle moving on road surface can be stopped suddenly by applying breaks
when the sufficient friction is developed.
 The types of vehicle are made up of certain special designs due to which
sufficient friction can be developed between the tires & the road surface so
that accidents due to sleeping are avoided.

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

APPARATUS
 Inclined plane with pulley
 Wooden boxes with different bottom surfaces
 Hanger with thread
 Set of masses

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TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

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TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
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PROCEDURE
 Set the inclined plane with glass top at some angle with horizontal.
 Note the inclination angle (α) of the plane.
 Take a slider of known mass (M) of any material (soft wood, sand paper, or
card board).
 Tie a string to the box and passing the string over a smooth pulley, attach an
effort pan to it.
 Slowly add known mass in the effort pan.
 The applied mass + the mass of pan will be (P).
 A stage would come when the effort pan just slides down pulling the box up
the plane.
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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

PROCEDURE
 Find the least possible mass in the pan that causes the box to just slide up the
plane.
 Note the mass (P) in the effort pan.
 Repeat the above steps for different surface materials.

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

OBSERVATION TABLE

Sr. No. Surface of Mass of slider Mass of Pan + Inclination of Coefficient of

Slider (M) applied load plane (α) friction (µ)
(Material) (P)

01 Carpet

02 Sand paper

03 Wheel

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

CALCULATIONS
𝑷 −𝑴 𝑺𝒊𝒏 α
µ=
𝑴 𝑪𝒐𝒔 α
Where,

P = Mass of Pan + applied load (gm)

M = Mass of slider (gm)
α= Angle f inclination

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 TO FINDOUT COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
BETWEEN DIFFERENT BODIES

PRECAUTIONS
 Pulley should be frictionless.
 There should not be any knot in the string.
 String should be parallel to the plane.
 The surface of the inclined plane should be smooth and clean.

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