Shivani Desai IB Physics SL DCP CE Lab

Pendulum.

GROUP 4 EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES

STUDENT LAB REPORT

IBDP Grade: 12

Name of Student: Shivani Desai

Session No. : 003768- 0004

Subject: Physics

Level: SL

Date : 15/09/14

Internal Assessment Criteria: D, DCP, CE

Name of Teacher: Baaz Pathan

Signature of Teacher:

Title Calculating the co-efficient of static

friction.
Shivani Desai IB Physics SL DCP CE Lab
Pendulum.

Aim: To study the relationship between force of limiting friction and normal reaction and to determine coefficient of
static friction between the block and a horizontal surface.

Formula:

=

Where, s = Coefficient of static friction

W = Total weight of the block
P = Horizontal force required to move the block along the surface (Frictional Force)

Variables
Independent variable: mass of the wooden block.
Dependent variable: mass of the counter- weight needed.
Controlled variable:
Length and nature of the string: the same string was used in all the trials to keep the tension in the string the
same.
Surface of the ramp and block: the same set up was used, since this would keep the friction force constant
during every trial.

Materials
Pulley set up (diagram)
Masses (10g, 20g, 50g, 100g, 500g)
Wooden block
String
Weighing pan
Shivani Desai IB Physics SL DCP CE Lab
Pendulum.

Procedure:
Note the weight of the wooden block using the weighing pan.
Set up the plane horizontal surface with an attached pulley (as shown in the diagram)
Tie a string from one end of the block to the weights at the end through the pulley (NOTE: make sure the
string is parallel to the surface of the plane once the weights are suspended)
Keep adding weights P gradually to the string so that the block begins to slide off; note this weight and
record it in the observation table.
Keep adding the weight of 50g on the wooden block and repeat the procedure above for 5 more readings.
Plot a graph of the effort (P) versus the load (W). The slope of this graph gives the coefficient of static friction
(s)

Data Collection

Raw data:

1) Mass of the wooden block: 161.02 0.05

2) Acceleration due to gravity= g = 9.80 m/s2

Obs. No. Mass on the block Total load Effort

W=
W1 P
(W0+W1)
g g/ (0.05) g/ (0.05)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
1 0 161.02 150 150 150
2 20 181.02 170 170 160
3 40 201.02 190 170 180
4 60 221.02 230 200 200
5 80 241.02 230 230 210
6 100 261.02 230 220 210
Shivani Desai IB Physics SL DCP CE Lab
Pendulum.

Processed Data:
Error in Mean
Obs. No. Mass on the block Total load Effort s
Effort (P) Effort
W=
W1 (P) P/W
(W0+W1)
(Maxima-
g g/ (0.05) g/ (0.05)
Minima)/2
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
1 0 161.02 150 150 150 0 150 0.931561
2 20 181.02 170 170 160 5 167 0.920709
3 40 201.02 190 170 180 10 180 0.895433
4 60 221.02 230 200 200 15 210 0.950140
5 80 241.02 230 230 210 10 223 0.926617
6 100 261.02 230 220 210 10 220 0.842847

Mean s 0.911218

Note: Errors in s are calculated below using graph.

Absolute error in coefficient of static friction (s)

Absolute error in coefficient of static friction (s )
Absolute error in Load (W) Absolute error in Frictional force (P)
=( + ) s
W P

Example working for Observation 1:

0.05 0.05
s= (161.02 + 150 ) 0.931561= 0.0006
Shivani Desai IB Physics SL DCP CE Lab
Pendulum.

As can be seen from the graph (s), the slope of the graph is 0.7829, maxima= 0.9550 and minima= 0.3570

Analysis of the Graph:

From the graph, we can calculate the error in the value of the coefficient of static friction (s):
s = 0.7829
s (max) = 0.9550
s (min) = 0.3570

() () 0.95500.3570
Error (s) = = = 0.299
2 2

0.299
Percentage Error = 100 = 38%
.7829
Shivani Desai IB Physics SL DCP CE Lab
Pendulum.

Conclusion and evaluation

Through this experiment, the coefficient of static friction (s) between a wooden block and a glass plane was
determined to be 0.78290.299. This experiment could be considered to be reasonably precise since the readings
were close to the line of best fit as can be seen in the graph. In order to improve the experiment though, the
following are the sources of error that must be worked upon:
The table top may not be perfectly horizontal, or the string may not be parallel to the ramp.
The pulley itself may not be frictionless (hence may alter the frictional force)
The surface may not be clean (hence one must be careful not to experiment in damp atmospheres)
Human errors in realising the slight movement of the block from its initial rest position.

However, there are several ways to improve the experiment and minimize the errors in the variables:
Rather than using hanging masses, using a container with sand or water overcome the frictional force is
likely to yield more precise results. The mass of the sand could then be easily measured accurately using
a digital weighing pan as compared to the 10g weights (hanging mass) that limited the accuracy of the
results to a wide 10g range
In order to confirm the change in position of the block, using digital mechanisms such as photogates, etc.
would provide for better accuracy in judging the coefficient of static friction as well since slight change
in position may go unnoticed by human observers.
More trials may be conducted to take the average result and hence reduce random errors.