1

Alex Barbour
Caroline Fogel
Santiago Mejia
Bryden Nadasdy
Mr. Hill
Physics Period 6
4 November 2014
Coefficients of Friction
Introduction:
Objective: Determine the coefficients of static and kinetic friction for wood on
wood and sandpaper on wood.
Background: A different amount of force is required to make an object move than
to keep it in constant motion. To find both coefficients, the equations s = FS max / Fn and k
= Fk / Fn must be used.
Results: The coefficient of static friction for wood on wood is 0.499 and the
coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.329. The coefficient of static friction for sandpaper on
wood is 0.735 and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.585. The coefficient of kinetic
friction is lower than static friction in both cases, and sandpaper on wood had higher
coefficients than wood on wood.
Materials & Diagram:
Wooden block with sandpaper on one side and hook on one end
Long wooden plank with a pulley on one end
String
Empty water bottle
Water
Scale

Procedure - Finding static friction:

Gather the materials.
Using the scale, find the mass of the wooden block. You will only need to do this
once.
Attach the string to the hook on the block.
Run string through the pulley.
Attach water bottle to other side of the string.
Lay the block with the wooden side down on the plank.

Add water slowly until the block starts to move.

Take the water bottle and measure the mass of the water bottle.
Dump water out of water bottle.
Repeat experiment two more times.
Repeat experiment three more times with the sandpaper side of the block down,
making sure to record data.
Procedure - Finding kinetic friction:
Repeat steps 1-5 from static friction
After adding a bit of water, tap the board to see if the block will start moving.
If board does not move, add a little more water.
Repeat until board moves at a continuous speed.
Once board moves, take water bottle and weigh it to find the mass.
Measure the mass of the water bottle.
Dump the water out of the water bottle.
Repeat experiment two more times.
Repeat experiment three more times with the sandpaper side of the block down,
making sure to record data.
Data:
Wood on Wood
Static

Kinetic

Trial 1 (mass of water in kg)

0.05221

0.03491

Trial 2 (kg)

0.05051

0.03208

Trail 3 (kg)

0.05007

0.03403

Average mass (kg)

0.05093

0.03367

Average force (N)

0.499

0.330

Static

Kinetic

Trial 1 (mass of water in kg)

0.07728

0.06064

Trial 2 (kg)

0.07439

0.05913

Trial 3 (kg)

0.07385

0.05964

Average mass (kg)

0.07517

0.05980

Average force (N)

0.737

0.587

Sandpaper on Wood

Calculations:
1. Normal Force on Block: 0.10kg x 9.81m/s2 = 1.003 N
2. Wood on wood - average static force (average mass in kg multiplied by gravity):
a. 0.05093 kg x 9.81 m/s^2 = 0.737 N
3. Wood on wood - average kinetic force (average mass in kg multiplied by gravity):
a. 0.03367 kg x 9.81 m/s^2 = 0.330 N
4. Sandpaper on wood - average static force (average mass in kg multiplied by
gravity):
a. 0.07519 kg x 9.81 m/s^2 = 0.737 N
5. Sandpaper on wood - average kinetic force (average mass in kg multiplied by
gravity):
a. 0.05980 kg x 9.81 m/s^2 = 0.587 N
Wood on Wood
FS max (N)

0.499

s (FS max / Fn)

0.499N / 1.003N = 0.499

Fk

0.330

k (Fk / Fn)

0.330N / 1.003N = 0.329

Sandpaper on Wood

FS max (N)

0.737

s (FS max / Fn)

0.737N / 1.003N = 0.735

Fk

0.587

k (Fk / Fn)

0.587N / 1.033N = 0.585

Discussion:
After the completion of the lab, the trials we finished revealed that the coefficient of static
friction for wood on wood is about 0.499. The coefficient of static friction of sandpaper on wood
is higher, at a value of about 0.737. These two values were the averages of the data acquired
from the multiple trials we conducted to run the experiment. After finding static friction, we
calculated the coefficient of kinetic friction in a set of separate test trials, to reveal the coefficient
of kinetic friction of wood on wood is about 0.32, while the coefficient of kinetic friction for
sandpaper on wood is 0.585. Due to the normal force exerted on the block of wood being almost
exactly 1 Newton, the s was almost the same as the FS max, and likewise, the k was nearly the
same as the Fk. Both the static friction and kinetic friction were greater on the sandpaper than on
the wood, because the sandpaper has a stronger force of friction. Within the experiment, there

were errors in the calculations, as the method used for finding the amount of weight that would
provide the force used, had a very large margin for error, as it was a human inaccurately
working. Between the inaccuracy for the waters weight, the human force exerted on the object,
and the rough wood, there were several sources of error that could have impacted the
experiment. Despite the potential for a failing experiment based on the inaccuracy of human
exertion, the results were calculated, and turned out to be consistent.
Conclusion:
After completing the lab, it was discovered that the coefficient of kinetic friction is less than the
coefficient of static friction for both surfaces. The coefficient of kinetic friction for wood on
wood, 0.329, is lower than the coefficient of kinetic friction for sandpaper on wood, 585. The
coefficient of static friction for wood on wood, 0.499, was lower than the coefficient of static
friction for sandpaper on wood, 0.735.