Chapter 3B.

Friction and
Equilibrium
Equilibrium: Until motion
begins, all forces on the
mower are balanced.
Friction in wheel bearings
and on the ground oppose
the lateral motion.
Objectives: After completing
this module, you should be
able to:
Define and calculate the coefficients of
Define and calculate the coefficients of
kinetic
kinetic and
and static
static friction,
friction, and
and give
give the
the
relationship
relationship of
of friction
friction to
to the
the normal
normal
force.
force.
Apply
Apply the
the concepts
concepts of
of static
static and
and kinetic
kinetic
friction
friction to
to problems
problems involving
involving constant
constant
motion
motion or or impending
impending motion.
motion.
 Friction Forces
When two surfaces are in contact, friction forc
oppose relative motion or impending (coming
motion.
P
Friction forces are
parallel to the surfaces in
contact and oppose
motion or impending
motion.

Static Friction: No Kinetic Friction:

relative motion. Relative motion.
motion
 Friction and the Normal
Force 12
8N n n
N
4N
n 4N 6N
2N

The force required to overcome static or

kinetic friction is proportional to the
normal force, n.

= ssn
ffss = n = kkn
ffkk = n
Friction forces are independent of
area.
4N 4N

If the total mass pulled is constant, the

same force (4 N) is required to overcome
friction even with twice the area of
contact.
For this to be true, it is essential that
ALL other variables be rigidly controlled.
Friction forces are independent of
temperature, provided no
chemical or structural variations
occur.
4N 4N

Heat can sometimes cause surfaces to

become deformed or sticky. In such
cases, temperature can be a factor.
Friction forces are independent of
speed.
5 m/s 20
2 N m/s 2 N

The force of kinetic friction is the

same at 5 m/s as it is for 20 m/s.
Again, we must assume that there
are no chemical or mechanical
changes due to speed.
 The Static Friction Force
When an attempt is made to move an
object on a surface, static friction
slowly increases to a MAXIMUM value.
value
n
fs
P
f s s n
W
In this module, when we use the
following equation, we refer only to
the maximum value of static friction
and simply write:
= ssn
ffss = n
 Constant or Impending
Motion
For motion that is impending and for
motion at constant speed, the
resultant force is zero and F = 0.
(Equilibrium)
fs P fk P

Rest Constant
Speed
P fs = 0 P fk = 0

Here the weight and normal forces

are balanced and do not affect
motion.
 Friction and Acceleration
When P is greater than the maximum
fs the resultant force produces
acceleration.
a This case will
fk P be discussed
in a later
Constant
chapter.
Speed f k = kn

Note that the kinetic friction force

remains constant even as the velocity
increases.
EXAMPLE 1: If k = 0.3 and s =
0.5, what horizontal pull P is
required to just start a 250-N
block moving? 1. Draw sketch and free-
body diagram as
shown.
2. List givens and label
n what is to be found:
P
fs
+ k = 0.3; s = 0.5; W = 250
N
W
Find: P = ? to just
start
3. Recognize for impending motion: P fs
EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): s = 0.5, W = 250 N.
Find P to overcome fs (max). Static
friction applies.
n For this case: P fs
P =
4. 0To find P we need to
fs
+ know fs , which is:
250
N fs = sn n=?

5. To find n: Fy = 0 nW=0
W = 250 N n = 250
N
(Continued)
EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): s = 0.5, W = 250 N. Find
P to overcome fs (max). Now we know n =
250 N.
6. Next we find fs
from: n
fs = sn = 0.5 (250 P
fs
N) +
7. For this case:
case P fs
250
=0
P = fs = 0.5 (250 N) N
s = 0.5
PP =
= 125
125 N
N

This force (125 N) is needed to just start

motion. Next we consider P needed for
EXAMPLE 1(Cont.): If k = 0.3 and s =
0.5, what horizontal pull P is required to
move with constant speed?
Fy = may =
(Overcoming kinetic friction)
0
k = 0.3
n-W=0 n=W
n
P Now: fk = kn = kW
fk
+ Fx = 0; P - fk =
0
mg
P = f k = kW

P = (0.3)(250 N) PP =
= 75.0
75.0 N
N
 The Normal Force and
Weight
The normal force is NOT always equal
to the weight. The following are
examples:
P
n 300
Here the normal force
is less than weight
m
due to upward
W component of P.
P Here the normal force
n is equal to only the
compo- nent of weight
W
perpendi- cular to the
plane.
 Review of Free-body
Diagrams:
For
For Friction
Friction Problems:
Problems:
Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
Construct
Construct force
force diagram
diagram forfor each
each object,
object,
vectors
vectors at
at origin
origin of
of x,y
x,y axes.
axes. Choose
Choose xx or
or
yy axis
axis along
along motion
motion oror impending
impending motion.
motion.
Dot
Dot in
in rectangles
rectangles and
and label
label xx and
and yy
compo-nents
compo-nents opposite
opposite and
and adjacent
adjacent to
to
angles.
angles.
Label
Label all
all components;
components; choose
choose positive
positive
direction.
direction.
 For Friction in Equilibrium:
Read,
Read, draw
draw and
and label
label problem.
problem.
Draw
Draw free-body
free-body diagram
diagram for
for each
each body.
body.
Choose
Choose xx oror y-axis
y-axis along
along motion
motion or
or impending
impending
motion
motion and
and choose
choose direction
direction of
of motion
motion asas
positive.
positive.
Identify
Identify the
the normal
normal force
force and
and write
write one
one of
of
following:
following:
=sn
ffss= or fk = kn
sn or fk = kn

For
For equilibrium,
equilibrium, we
we write
write for
for each
each axis:
axis:
FFxx=
=00 FFyy=
=00
Solve
Solve for
for unknown
unknown quantities.
quantities.
 Example 2. A force of 60 N drags a
300-N block by a rope at an angle of
400 above the horizontal surface. If uk
= 0.2, what force P will produce
= 300 Pspeed?
constant
W =? 1. Draw and label a
N
n 400
sketch of the
problem.
fk 2. Draw free-body
m
diagram.
P sin 400 P
y P
W n 40 Py
The force P is to be 0

replaced by its com- fk P Pcos

x

400
ponents Px and Py. W +
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =
0.2.
P sin 400
3. Find components P
n 40
of P:
P = P cos 400 =
x 0
P cos
0.766P fk
Py = P sin 400 = 400
m
0.643P +
Px = 0.766P; Py = g
0.643P
Note: Vertical forces are balanced, and
for constant speed, horizontal forces are
balanced.

0
F
F

xx0
0
F
F
0yy
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =
0.2.
Px =
0.766P Py = 0.643P
P
0.643P n
4. Apply Equilibrium 400
con- ditions to
fk 0.766P
vertical axis.
FFyy =
= 00 300 N +
n + 0.643P 300 N= [P and n are up
y
0
n = 300 N (+)]for n in terms of
Solve
0.643P;
P
nn =
= 300
300 N
N
0.643P
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =
0.2.
nn =
= 300
300 N
N
0.643P
P
0.643P
0.643P
n
5. Apply Fx = 0 to con- 400

stant horizontal fk 0.766P

Fmotion.
Fxx =
= 0.766P
0.766P ffkk =
= 300 N +
00
fk = k n = (0.2)(300 N - 0.643P)
fk = (0.2)(300 N - 0.643P) = 60 N
0.129P
0.766P fk = 0.766P
0.766P (60
(60 N
N 0.129P)
0.129P) =
=
0; 00
Example 2 (Cont.). P = ?; W = 300 N; uk =
0.2.
0.643P
P 0.766P
0.766P (60
(60 N
N 0.129P
0.129P ))
n 40 =0
=0
6. Solve for unknown P.
0

fk 0.766P
300 0.766P 60 N + 0.129P =0
N +

0.766P + 0.129P = 60 If P = 67 N, the

N block will be
0.766P + 0.129P = 60 dragged at a
N constant speed.
0.895P = 60 N
P = 67.0 N P = 67.0 N
 Example 3: What push P up the
incline is needed to move a 230-N
block up the incline at constant
speed
Step 1: if k =free-body
Draw 0.3? P
including forces, angles
W =230 N
and components.
0
n x 60
y P
Step 2: Fy = 0
fk W cos 600
W sin 600
n W cos 600 = 0
600 n = (230 N) cos
600
230
N nn == 115
115 N
N
Example 3 (Cont.): Find P to
give move up the incline (W =
230 N). 60
0

y n x W = 230
P n = 115 N
Step 3. Apply N Fx =
fk W cos 600 0
W sin 600 600 P - fk - W sin 600 = 0
fk = kn = 0.2(115 N)
W
fk = 23 N, P = ?
P - 23 N - (230 N)sin 600 =
0
P - 23 N - 199 N= PP =
= 222
222 N
N
0
Example 3
When a block of 100N is on an incline plane
at angle of inclination, = 250 and attached
by a cord from a point. Find the tension in th
rope if the coefficient of static friction s=0.3
The block is in static equilibrium,
Example 3 Solution
Always start with a free body diagram showing all the forces acting on the body.
The x- and y-axes have been chosen parallel and perpendicular to the plane.
From that diagram, the components of the weight are

Wx = W sin 25 = 42.3 N

Wy = - W cos 25 = - 90.6 N
Example 3 Solution-CON
The normal force FN lies in the positive y-direction

the tension T and friction force F r lie along the negative x-ax
Notice that the friction force is its maximum value if the rope
required to hold the block in equilibrium. F f,max= FN
Now we have all the components required for the First
Condition of Equilibrium.
Example 3 Solution-CON
The First Condition of Equilibrium, for the
x-components of all the forces, is
Fx = W x - Ff - T = 0

Wx - Ff,max - T = 0
Wx - FN - T = 0
42.3 N - 0.35 FN - T =
0
Example 3 Solution-CON
The First Condition of Equilibrium, for the y-components of all the
forces, is
Fy =FN-Wy=0
FN - 90.6 N = 0

FN = 90.6

42.3 N - 0.35 FN - T = 0
42.3 N - 0.35 (90.6 N) - T = 0
T = 10.6 N
Summary: Important Points to
Consider When Solving Friction
Problems.
The maximum force of static
friction is the force required to
just nstart motion.
fs
P
f s s n
W

Equilibrium exists at that instant:

FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00
Summary: Important Points (Cont.)
The force of kinetic friction is that
force required to maintain
constant
n motion .

fk
P
f k k n
W

Equilibrium exists if speed is

constant, but fk does not get
larger as the speed is increased.
FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00
Summary: Important Points (Cont.)
Choose an x or y-axis along the
direction of motion or impending
motion.
The F will be
k = 0.3 zero along the x-
n axis and along the
P y-axis.
fk
+
In this figure, we
W have:
FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00
Summary: Important Points (Cont.)
Remember the normal force n is
not always equal to the weight of an
object. P
n 300
It is necessary to
m draw the free-body
W diagram and sum
forces to solve for
P
n the correct n value.

W FFxx 0;
0; FFyy 00

 Summary
Static Friction: No Kinetic Friction:
relative motion. Relative motion.

ssn
ffss n = kkn
ffkk = n
Procedure for solution of equilibrium
problems is the same for each case:

FFxx 00 FFyy 00