Physics 111: Lecture 7

Today’s Agenda

● Friction
➧ What is it?
➧ How do we characterize it?
➧ Model of friction
➧ Static & Kinetic friction

● Some problems involving friction

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 1

 New Topic: Friction

● What does it do?

➧ It opposes motion!

● How do we characterize this in terms we have learned?

➧ Friction results in a force in the direction opposite to the
direction of motion!

N j

FAPPLIED i
ma

fFRICTION
mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 2

 Friction...

● Friction is caused by the “microscopic” interactions

between the two surfaces:

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 3

 Friction...

● Force of friction acts to oppose motion:

➧ Parallel to surface.
➧ Perpendicular to Normal force.

N j

F i
ma

fF
mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 4

 Model for Sliding Friction Suitcase

● The direction of the frictional force vector is perpendicular

to the normal force vector N.

● The magnitude of the frictional force vector |fF| is

proportional to the magnitude of the normal force |N |.

➧ |fF| = µK | N | ( = µK | mg | in the previous example)

➧ The “heavier” something is, the greater the friction will

be...makes sense!

● The constant µK is called the “coefficient of kinetic friction.”

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 5

 Model...

● Dynamics:
i: F − µKN = ma
j: N = mg

so F − µKmg = ma

N j

F i
ma

µK mg
mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 6

 Lecture 7, Act 1
Forces and Motion
● A box of mass m1 = 1.5 kg is being pulled by a horizontal
string having tension T = 90 N. It slides with friction (µk = 0.51)
on top of a second box having mass m2 = 3 kg, which in turn
slides on a frictionless floor.
➧ What is the acceleration of the second box ?
(a) a = 0 m/s2 (b) a = 2.5 m/s2 (c) a = 3.0 m/s2

T m1 slides with friction (µk=0.51 )

a=? m2 slides without friction

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 7

 Lecture 7, Act 1
Solution
● First draw FBD of the top box:

N1

T m1 f = µKN1 = µKm1g

m1g

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 8

 Lecture 7, Act 1
Solution
● Newtons 3rd law says the force box 2 exerts on box 1 is
equal and opposite to the force box 1 exerts on box 2.
● As we just saw, this force is due to friction:

m1 f1,2 = µKm1g

f2,1 m2

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 9

 Lecture 7, Act 1
Solution
● Now consider the FBD of box 2: N2

f2,1 = µkm1g m2

m1g
m2g

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 10

 Lecture 7, Act 1
Solution
● Finally, solve F = ma in the horizontal direction:

m1 1.5 kg
µKm1g = m2a a= µk g = × 0.51 × 9.81 m s 2
m2 3 kg

a = 2.5 m/s2

f2,1 = µKm1g m2

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 11

 Inclined Plane with Friction:

● Draw free-body diagram:

ma
µKN

j N θ
mg
θ

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 12

 Inclined plane...

● Consider i and j components of FNET = ma :

i mg sin θ − µKN = ma
j N = mg cos θ
µKN
ma
mg sin θ − µKmg cos θ = ma
j N θ

a / g = sin θ − µKcos θ
mg θ
mg cos θ
i
mg sin θ

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 13

 Static Friction...

● So far we have considered friction acting when something moves.

➧ We also know that it acts in un-moving “static” systems:

● In these cases, the force provided by friction will depend on the

forces applied on the system.

N j

F i

fF
mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 14

 Static Friction...

● Just like in the sliding case except a = 0.

i: F − fF = 0
j: N = mg

● While the block is static: fF = F

N j

F i

fF
mg
Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 15
 Static Friction...

● The maximum possible force that the friction between two

objects can provide is fMAX = µSN, where µs is the
“coefficient of static friction.”
➧ So fF ≤ µS N.
➧ As one increases F, fF gets bigger until fF = µSN and the
object starts to move.

N j

F i

fF
mg
Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 16
 Static Friction... Suitcase

● µS is discovered by increasing F until the block starts to

slide:
i: FMAX − µSN = 0
j: N = mg

µS = FMAX / mg

N j

FMAX i

µSmg
mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 17

 Lecture 7, Act 2
Forces and Motion
● A box of mass m =10.21 kg is at rest on a floor. The coefficient
of static friction between the floor and the box is µs = 0.4.
● A rope is attached to the box and pulled at an angle of θ = 30o
above horizontal with tension T = 40 N.
➧ Does the box move?

(a) yes (b) no (c) too close to call

m θ
static friction (µs = 0.4 )

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 18

 Lecture 7, Act 2 y
Solution
● Pick axes & draw FBD of box: x

● Apply FNET = ma

y: N + T sin θ - mg = maY = 0
N
N = mg - T sin θ = 80 N

T
x: T cos θ - fFR = maX

The box will move fFR m θ

if T cos θ - fFR > 0

mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 19

 Lecture 7, Act 2 y
Solution
y: N = 80 N x

x: T cos θ - fFR = maX

The box will move

if T cos θ - fFR > 0 N

T cos θ = 34.6 N T
fMAX = µsN = (.4)(80N) = 32 N fMAX = µsN
m θ

So T cos θ > fMAX and the box does move

mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 20

 Static Friction:

● We can also consider µS on an inclined plane.

● In this case, the force provided by friction will depend on the

angle θ of the plane.

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 21

 Static Friction...

● The force provided by friction, fF , depends on θ.

fF
ma = 0 (block is not moving)

mg sin θ − ff = 0
j N θ
(Newton’s 2nd Law along x-axis)
mg
θ

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 22

 Static Friction...
Blocks
● We can find µs by increasing the ramp angle until the block
slides:

mg sin θ − ff = 0
In this case:
ff = µSN = µSmg cos θM
µSN
j mg sin θM − µSmg cos θM = 0

N
θM mg
θ µS = tan θM
i

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 23

 Additional comments on Friction:

● Since fF = µN , the force of friction does not depend on the

area of the surfaces in contact.

● By definition, it must be true that µS > µK for any

system (think about it...).

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 24

 Aside:

● Graph of Frictional force vs Applied force:

fF = µSN

fF = µKN
fF

fF = F A

FA

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 25

 Problem: Box on Truck

● A box with mass m sits in the back of a truck. The coefficient

of static friction between the box and the truck is µS.
➧ What is the maximum acceleration a that the truck can
have without the box slipping?

m µS

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 26

 Problem: Box on Truck

● Draw Free Body Diagram for box:

➧ Consider case where fF is max...

(i.e. if the acceleration were any
larger, the box would slip).

fF = µSN mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 27

 Problem: Box on Truck

● Use FNET = ma for both i and j components

➧ i µSN = maMAX
➧ j N = mg

aMAX = µS g N

j
aMAX
i

fF = µSN mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 28

 Lecture 7, Act 3
Forces and Motion
● An inclined plane is accelerating with constant acceleration
a. A box resting on the plane is held in place by static
friction. What is the direction of the static frictional force?

µS a

Ff
Ff
Ff

(a) (b) (c)

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 29
 Lecture 7, Act 3
Solution
● First consider the case where the inclined plane is not
accelerating.

N
Ff

mg

N
● All the forces add up to zero!
mg
Ff

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 30

 Lecture 7, Act 3
Solution
● If the inclined plane is accelerating, the normal force
decreases and the frictional force increases, but the
frictional force still points along the plane:

N
Ff
a

mg

N
● All the forces add up to ma! ma
mg
➧ F = ma
➧ The answer is (a) Ff

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 31

 Problem: Putting on the brakes
Wheel
● Anti-lock brakes work by making sure the wheels roll
without slipping. This maximizes the frictional force slowing
the car since µS > µK .

● The driver of a car moving with speed vo slams on the

brakes. The coefficient of static friction between the wheels
and the road is µS . What is the stopping distance D?

vo
ab
v=0

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 32

 Problem: Putting on the brakes

● Use FNET = ma for both i and j components

➧ i µSN = ma
➧ j N = mg

N
a = µS g

j
a
i
fF = µSN mg

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 33

 Problem: Putting on the brakes

● As in the last example, find ab = µSg.

● Using the kinematic equation: v2 - v02 = 2a( x -x0 )

● In our problem: 0 - v02 = − 2ab( D )

vo
ab
v=0

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 34

 Problem: Putting on the brakes

● In our problem: 0 - v02 = − 2ab( D )

● Solving for D:
v 02
D=
2 ab

Putting in ab = µSg v 02
D=
2 µs g

vo
ab
v=0

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 35

 Recap of today’s lecture

● Friction
➧ What is it? (Text: 5-1)
➧ How do we characterize it?
➧ Model of friction.
➧ Static & Kinetic friction. (Text: 5-1)

● Some problems involving friction.

➧ Box on truck.
➧ Braking distance. (Example 5-7)

● Look at textbook problems Chapter 5: # 11, 13, 19, 33

Physics 111: Lecture 7, Pg 36