Lab Experiment 06

Co-Efficient Of Static Friction On Inclined Plane

Name:

M.Mateen Shahid _________

Score : _________________

Roll No:___________________

Signature of Lab Tutor: _________________ Date :______________

To Determine The Co-Efficient Of Static Friction Of A Fabric On An Inclined Stainless Steel Plane
Performance object:
Upon successful completion of this experiment, the student will be able to:
i) Understand what is friction and its behavior.
ii) Measure co-efficient of static friction on an inclined plane.
iii) Have clear concept of the static friction between two contacting surfaces.
Apparatus:
Inclined stainless steel surface with a frictionless pulley (attached to a wooden base). Wooden block,
Piece of String, Fabric to be tested, Weighting pan and weighting Box.
Discussion/Theory:
The friction is the force that opposes the motion or tendency of motion of an object when the object is in
contact with another object or surface. The magnitude of the frictional force F is directly proportional to
the magnitude of the resultant normal force N. The resultant normal force is a contacting force because of
which two surfaces in contact. When the contact of two surfaces is horizontal, the magnitude of the
normal force is equal to the weight of upper body. Figure 6.1 illustrates the contact of two surfaces at
certain angle(or at an inclination, )
FN
Or
F= N

Figure 6.1

Lab Experiment 06
From Figure 6.1, we get
N= W cos
F= P-W sin
Therefore equation 6.1 is modified as,
=

P-W sin
W cos

(6.2)

Where
= Co-efficient of friction
P= Load on string
W= Weight of the block
= Angle of the inclined plane with horizontal=inclination
F= Resultant frictional force
Procedure/Method:
1. Cover the wooden block with the fabric to be tested in such a way that the surface of fabric must
be free from creases and weigh it, Weight of the block=W.
2. Place the wooden block on the inclined stainless steel surface of known inclination , attach the
string on one side of wooden block , pass it over pulley and attach a weighting pan on the other
end of the string as shown in figure 6.2
3. Now place some weight on the weighting pan.
4. After placing some weight check friction of fabric surface on the horizontal stainless steel surface
by taping.
5. If wooden block moves by taping then note the magnitude of the load on string (P).
6. Calculate the co-efficient of static friction by using equation 6.2.
7. Repeat above procedure five times by increasing the weight of wooden block.
8. Calculate the average co-efficient of static friction.

Figure 6.2
2

Lab Experiment 06

Calculation:
Co-efficient of static friction = =

P-W sin
W cos

Average = /n where n is the number of observations

Test Report / Results:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Fabric Specifications.
Inclination.
Total weight of wooden block.
Total load on string.
Co-efficient of static friction ().
Average Co-efficient of static friction.

Fabric Specification:
(iv) Material (fiber)
(v) Construction
(vi) Condition (Grey/Treated/Dyed/Printed/Finished)
if finished, specify type of finish

Observation
No.

Inclination=
(radians/Degrees)

Weight of Block= W
(newtons)

1
2
3
4
5
Average

Load on string =P
(newtons)

P-W sin
W cos

Lab Experiment 06

Review Questions:

1. What is the difference between horizontal and inclined plane?

2. What is the effect of inclination on Co-efficient of friction?

3. Write the application of friction in the field of textile?

Final Checklist:
1. Clean your apparatus and workbench before you leave.
2. Keep the apparatus back to their proper places.
3. Submit your answers to questions and results before the next laboratory experiment according to
the time table.