P H YS I C S

L A B O R ATO RY

M A N U A L

Coefficient of Kinetic
Friction & Drag Force

riction forces arise whenever two objects surfaces are in contact.

Similarly, friction-like drag forces arise if a body moves through a
fluid such as air or water. All of these forces are actually
electromagnetic in nature, arising from the electrostatic
interactions between the molecules of the two interacting objects.
Frictional forces separate into two distinct classes, static and kinetic friction. In
the static case, the objects are at rest relative to one another, and an external
force is required to cause them to move relative to one another. The amount
of external force required to overcome static friction depends on the surface
area in contact and also on the coefficient of static friction s , which is a
material property of the interface between the two objects in question. The
force of static friction can increase from zero up to some maximum value
Fmax
s

just before motion occurs, where

Fmax
s = s F N
(1)

where s is the coefficient of static friction and F N

the normal force acting on the object.

is the magnitude of

Once an object is in motion, the nature of the friction between the two
surfaces changes; static friction is exchanged for kinetic friction. Unlike
static friction, the force of kinetic friction is fixed in magnitude and is
independent of the surface area in contact. Like static friction, kinetic friction
it depends on the nature of the two surfaces, defined for the kinetic case as
the coefficient of kinetic friction k . The magnitude of the force of kinetic
friction F k is
F k =k F N
(2)
In nearly all situations k is less than s , so that once you overcome
friction and get an object in motion, a lesser force can keep the object in
motion.
1

P H YS I C S

L A B O R ATO RY

M A N U A L

A P PAR AT U S

wood blocks,
adjustable inclined
plane with pulley and
protractor, weight
hanger and set of
weights, platform
balance and level,
coffee filters and
motion detector,
computer with
software

Part I. Kinetic Friction

Figure 1.

Adjustable inclined plane apparatus.

In the first part of the procedure well determine the force necessary to keep
the block sliding along the plane at constant velocity. What does that tell us
about the acceleration and the net force? From this information, and the
application of Newtons second law to the configuration shown in Figure 2a,
we will calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction for the block-plane surface.

Once we have determined k , the plane will be inclined to a known angle

and we will measure the force necessary to have the block slide up the
incline at constant speed. See Figure 2b. We will also predict the values of
the forces by applying Newtons second law to this configuration.

Figure 2. a) Block moving along level surface. b) Block moving on incline.

Achieving the result of having the block slide at constant speed will
require giving the block a slight push to help it overcome static friction. This
will also require a little practice and patience. If the block does not move at
constant speed, your results will be flawed as your application of Newtons
second law to the two configurations will be incorrect. Repeat the trial runs
until you get consistent values for a given set of conditions.
Note:

a. Finding the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction

1. To measure k we will use the arrangement shown in Figure 2a.
Make sure that the surfaces of the block and plane are clean and dry.
Measure the mass of the block and then place it on the plane with its
broad side down. Start with the plane level to the ground (0).
2. Connect the string to the block and pass it over the pulley. Hook the
mass hanger to the other end of the string. Make sure the string is
parallel to the plane.

3. Add masses to the hanger to find the amount of mass needed to make
the block move slowly and with a constant velocity after giving it a
little nudge to get it started.
4. Repeat Step 3 with the block on its narrow side.
Question 1.

Is the same amount of force required?

5. Repeat Step 3 again, but with the block on its broad side and masses of
100 g, 200 g and 600 g loaded onto the top of the block.
6. Tabulate your results and use them to calculate k for your blockplane surfaces. Find the average and standard deviation of your final
results; you will use this value in the analysis of Part Ib. Comment on
whether the frictional force on the block depended on the block being
on its broad side or its narrow side.

b. The Inclined Plane

1. Incline the plane to 20 and set the block on the inclined plane with its
broad side down, again hooking up the hanger and making sure that
the string is parallel to the plane.
2. As done previously, add masses to the hanger to find the amount of
mass needed to make the block move slowly and with constant velocity.
3. Repeat this procedure with the plane at angles of 30 and 40.
4. Tabulate your results and determine the applied force of tension that
acted on the block causing it to slide up the incline at constant speed.
5. In your table, include the value of the tension needed to keep the block
moving up the incline at constant speed that you calculated using the
k from Part Ia and the application of Newtons second law. Find the
percent difference between your measured results and your calculated
results.
6. Be certain to comment on the how well your calculated and measured
forces agree.

Part II. Drag and Terminal Velocity

For an object moving through a fluid (e.g. water or air), the
retard its motion. The drag force is given by

drag force

tends to

1
2
D= CA v
2
(3)
Where A is the cross-sectional area of the object, is the density of the
fluid, and v is the speed. C is a dimensionless drag coefficient that
depends on the shape of the moving object and whose value generally lies in
the range 0.5 - 1.0.
When the drag force reaches its maximum (as the objects speed reaches its
maximum), the drag force becomes equal to the objects weight
1
2
CA v t =mg
2
(4)
where the speed is then the terminal velocity v t .
To measure the terminal velocity of the coffee filter, you need to set up the
motion detector suspended over the edge of the table as in Figure 3 and
drop the coffee filter vertically. In order to vary the mass, you will repeat
with more coffee filters namely, 2, 4, 6,
8, and 10.
1. Plug the motion sensor into the
interface and click on the input to
identify the type of sensor.
2. Make a table and graph of the
position and speed data vs time.

Figure 3. Setup for measuring the terminal velocity.

3. To see what kind of data you get do a test run: click Record, drop the
filter, then click Stop. You may notice that the data is somewhat noisy
and that if the filter is too close to the motion sensor, the filter is not
detected. This is normal.
4. Do you see the velocity of the filter reaching a terminal value? If not,
troubleshoot your setup.
5. Once you are able to get the terminal velocity, repeat the procedure
with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 coffee filters and record their terminal velocities.
6. Weigh the 10 coffee filters. Also measure their diameter and calculate
the area.
Analysis

7. Assuming C=0.75 , use Equation 4 to calculate the theoretical value

of the terminal speed. Compare with the experimental result by
calculating percent error.
2
v t vs. mg . You should have 5 points on the graph
representing five filters. Fit the data to a line and extract the slope.

8. Use Excel to plot

9. Rearrange Equation 4 to find the theoretical slope of the line in the

graph. Use this to calculate the value of C (aka C .

Additional Questions
Why is it unwise to suddenly apply the brakes of a car on a wet or
icy pavement? (Hint: What type of friction is acting between your tires and
the roadway if your tires are sliding along the road? What if your tires are
rolling along the road?) Briefly explain.
Question 2.

Explain why it is so important that the string that connects the

block to the hanging masses must be parallel to the surface of the plane?
Would the frictional force change if the string were not parallel? Explain why
or why not.
Question 3.

Give a couple of everyday examples where a reduction in the force

of friction would be undesirable.
Question 4.

What are some real life situations in which a person is affected by

air resistance?
Question 5.

How would the results of your experiment change if the fluid

through which the objects were dropped had been more viscous? How about
if the object had the same dimensions but was made heavier?
Question 6.