When we throw a ball on the floor, it starts moving with some velocity. But ideally, no force should be acting in the direction of motion, and according to Newton’s first law, the ball should keep rolling, but this does not happen. Instead, the ball stops after moving a certain distance, so a force must be acting on it. We call this force “friction.”
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What Is Friction?
Friction is defined as the resistance offered by the surfaces that are in contact when they move past each other.
Friction provides traction that is needed to walk without slipping. Friction is helpful in most cases. However, they also offer a great measure of opposition to the motion. In addition, about 20 per cent of the engine power of automobiles is consumed in overcoming frictional forces in the moving parts. In the next section, let us go through some of these factors.
Factors Affecting Friction
Friction is a force that is dependent on external factors. Following are the two factors on which friction depends:
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1. On the nature of the two surfaces that are in contact
Friction is dependent on the smoothness or roughness of the two surfaces that are in contact with each other. When the surface is smooth, the friction between the two reduces as there is not much interlocking of irregularities. While the surface is rough, friction increases. |
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2. On the force that is acting on these surfaces
Friction increases when the force is applied along with the irregularities. |
What Causes Friction?
Friction is caused due to the irregularities on the two surfaces in contact. So, when one object moves over the other, these irregularities on the surface get entangled, giving rise to friction. The more the roughness, the more irregularities and more significant will be the friction.
Types of Friction
There are four types of friction and they are classified as follows:
- Static friction
- Sliding friction
- Rolling friction
- Fluid friction
All four types of frictions are different from each other. For example, static friction is the friction that acts between the surfaces when they are at rest with respect to each other. In contrast, sliding friction is the resistance created between any two objects when sliding against each other. Similarly, understand the nature of different types of friction from the article below.
Read more:Types of Friction
Watch the Video and Learn about Friction, Coefficient and Properties of Friction
Applications of Friction
- Friction finds application when matchsticks are ignited.
- Motion of pistons in a cylinder is an application of friction.
- It is possible to write on books and board as there is friction between pen and the board.
Friction Problem with Solution
Block A is kept on top of block B; the coefficient of static friction between A and B is 0.6 and between B and ground is 0.5. Also, the coefficient of kinetic friction between A and B is 0.4 and between B and ground is 0.3. If a force of 60 N is applied on block B, Find the acceleration of both the blocks. Mass of block A is 5 kg, and Block B is 10 Kg.
Solution:
The first step should always be to draw the F.B.D of the given setup:
Let’s consider that both blocks are moving with the same acceleration, then A + B can be considered as a system, so the force equation in the horizontal direction will be,
60–f1 = 15a —— (1)
Since block B is moving over the surface, hence it is sliding friction.
Therefore, in this case we will use coefficient of friction as 0.3, f1 = 0.3 × 15 × 10 N f1 = 45 N —— (2)
From (1) and (2)
we have, a = 1m/s2 From F.B.D of block A, f = 5.a
Putting the value of a, we get, f = 5 N
Maximum value of static friction between A and B = 0.6 × 5 × 10 = 30 N
As f lies within the range, the two blocks can move together with an acceleration of 1 m/s2. We can also be asked to find the maximum force applied to block B so that both blocks move together. In that case, since both blocks will move together, there will be static friction between the two, and hence the maximum value that can act is 30 N.
Therefore, acceleration of B, a = 305 m/s2 = 6 m/s2
For Block A,F – 45 – 30 = 10 × 6 F = 135 N
So if a force of more than 135 N is applied, both blocks will have different accelerations.
Understand the Common Misconception about Friction by Watching the Video
Videos Related to Friction
Demonstration of Friction
Self-Adjusting Nature of Friction
Role of Friction in Walking
Is Friction Impulsive?
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
How does friction produce heat?
How is friction useful?
Why is friction a non-conservative force?
Will friction increase as the speed increases?
Can friction be zero?
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