Friction and its Laws

  1. Frictional force is a contact force and operates in a direction so as to oppose relative motion of two bodies (surfaces) in contact.

  2. Static and Kinetic Friction

    Static FrictionKinetic Friction
    Frictional force acting between surfaces when there is no relative motion between them.Frictional force acting between surfaces when there is relative motion between them.
    self adjusting and variable forceConstant force
  3. Origin of friction

    \to According to the classical concept, the occurrence of frictional force is due to the interlocking of irregularities between surfaces in contact.

    \to According to the modern concept, the occurrence of friction is due to intermolecular force between surfaces in contact. Hence, it has electrical origin.

  4. Limiting Friction:

    The maximum value of frictional force when it is just at the verge of motion when a force is applied is called limiting friction. (f_l)

  5. Frictional force (f) as a function of applied force (F)

  6. Laws of Friction

    \to The magnitude of the force of limiting friction between two bodies in contact is directly proportional to the normal reaction between them. i.e. f ∝ R

    \to The direction of force of limiting friction is always opposite to the direction in which one body is at a verge of moving over the other.

    \to The force of limiting friction is independent of apparent area of contact, so as long normal reaction between the two bodies remains the same.

    \to The force of limiting friction between the two bodies in contact depends on the nature of the surface in contact.


Friction, Angle of Friction and Angle of Repose

  1. Magnitude of Frictional Force

    f ∝ R

    f = µR

    Here, f is the frictional force, µ is the coefficient of friction and R is a normal reaction.

    Thus,

    Limiting frictional force, f_l = µ_sR

    For motion, kinetic frictional force, f_k = µ_kR

    Here, µ_s and µ_k are coefficients of static friction and coefficient of kinetic friction respectively.

  2. Angle between resultant contact force and normal reaction is angle of friction.

  3. From figure, \tan θ = \dfrac{f_l}{R} and also, µ_s = \dfrac{f_l}{R}

    Hence, \tan θ= µ_s

  4. Angle of Repose

    It is the angle of inclination of an inclined plane when the body just starts sliding down.

  5. F_{down }= F_l

    mg \sin α = µ_smg \cos α

    \tan α= µ_s

    Thus, α= θ=\tan^{-1}(µ_s)

    \to If Angle of inclination > \alpha ,the obj slides.

  6. Angle of Friction = Angle of Repose

    \theta = \alpha


      Pushing and Pulling of Body

      1. Pushing and Pulling of Body
      2. Here, If we want to write minimum force in both cases in terms of µ, then

        F_{min} = \dfrac{µmg}{\sqrt{1+ µ^2}}


      Better You Know

      1. According to classical concept, occurrence of frictional force is due to interlocking of irregularities between surfaces in contact.
      2. According to the modern concept, the occurrence of friction is due to intermolecular force between surfaces in contact. So, it has electrical origin.

      3. Friction is a non-coservative force i.e. work done by frictional force depends upon path.

      4. The frictional force depends on the nature of the sliding body and surface in contact.

      5. Rolling friction <Kinetic Friction< Limiting Friction. i.e. \mu_r < \mu_k < \mu_l

      6. If the body is rolling a horizontal surface, the frictional force acts in same direction of rolling.

      7. If the body is sliding in a horizontal surface, the frictional force acts in opposite direction.

      8. A block takes n times as much time to slide down a rough inclined plane of inclination\phi as it takes to slide down a perfectly smooth incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction between block and incline is given by µ_k = \tan \alpha(1-\dfrac{1}{n^2} )

      9. A block slides through a distance x on a smooth inclined plane of inclination \phi and the blocks slide through distance \dfrac{x}{n} on a rough inclined plane of the same inclination \phi in equal time, then

        µ_k = \tan \phi(1-\dfrac{1}{n})

      10. If \biggr(\dfrac{1}{n}\biggr)^{th} part of uniform chain overhangs from the edge of a horizontal surface, the coefficient of friction is µ = \dfrac{1}{n-1}

      11. When a body of weight W is pressed against vertical wall by applying horizontal force F, total force exerted by wall on body is \sqrt{F^2+W^2}

      12. If a time taken by block to slide down along rough inclined plane of inclination \phi is n times the time taken by block to move up the same rough plane, coefficient of kinetic friction is µ_k = \tan \phi \dfrac{n^2-1}{n^2+1}

      13. When a block is pulled by a force equal to its weight at an angle \phi with vertical then block will be in motion if µ \leq \cot \dfrac{\phi}{2}

      14. When a block is pushed by a force equal to its weight at an angle \phi with vertical then block will be in motion if µ \leq \tan \dfrac{\phi}{2}

      15. Stopping time and Stopping distance

        \toA body moving in a horizontal plane with speed 'v'. It comes to rest after travelling distance s and time t due to friction. s and t are called stopping distance and stopping time.

        \to s= \dfrac{v^2}{2 \mu g} and t = \dfrac{v}{\mu g}

      16. Body Pressing Against Wall

        For no falling of object f \geq mg

        µR \geq Mg ( As, Normal reaction R or N = F )

        R \geq \dfrac{Mg}{\mu}

        Hence, F \geq Mg\cot θ

      17. Hanging of Chain

        Let L be the length of chain of mass m and y be the length of chain that hangs over edge of table. L-y is the length of chain that lies on table.

        For no falling,

        f_l \geq F

        µ_sR \geq\dfrac{mgy}{L}

        \dfrac{µ_s mg (L-y)}{L} \geq \dfrac{mgy}{L}