CIE 1.5.2 Friction

Friction
Friction is the force that opposes one surface moving, or trying to move, over
another. It can be a help or a hindrance.
-Solid friction can be described as the force between two surfaces that may
impede motion and produce heating.
-Friction (drag) acts on an object moving through gas (air resistance),

such as a vehicle or falling leaf, which opposes the motion of the object.
-Friction (drag) acts on an object moving through a liquid. Drag increases

as the speed of the object increases, and acts to reduce acceleration and slow
the object down.
Circular motion
There are many examples of bodies moving in circular paths
-clothes being spun dry in a washing machine,
-the planets going round the Sun
-the Moon circling the Earth.
Centripetal force
In Figure a ball attached to a string is being
whirled round in a horizontal circle. Its direction
of motion is constantly changing. It can be seen
that motion in a circular path is due to a force
perpendicular to the motion.
Note
Velocity has both size and direction if the direction of a moving body changes,
even if its speed(magnitude) does not, then its velocity has changed.
This force, which acts towards the center and keeps a body moving in a circular
path, is called the centripetal force (center-seeking force).
A larger force is needed if
● the speed v of the ball is increased, with mass and radius constant
● the radius r of the circle is decreased, with mass and speed constant
● the mass m of the ball is increased, with speed and radius constant.
This force, which acts towards the center and keeps a body moving in a
circular path, is called the centripetal force (center-seeking force).
Test yourself
14 a Explain the conditions under which friction occurs.

Ans: Friction occurs when there is motion between two surfaces.
b Name two effects resulting from solid friction.
impedes motion / reduces speed/ causes heating
• 15 A car is moving at a constant speed along a straight road. Describe how
the forces acting on the car influence the speed of the car.
• Air resistance between the air and the moving car acts to reduce speed;
(friction between the tyres and the road acts to reduce the speed; the motor
acts to increase the speed.)
• How is a constant speed achieved?
• When the forces in each direction are equal and opposite, the resultant force
is zero and the car maintains a constant speed.
16.An apple is whirled round in a horizontal circle on the end of a string which
is tied to the stalk. It is whirled faster and faster and at a certain speed the apple
is torn from the stalk. Explain why this happens.
The force is greater than the stalk can resist .
17. Is the gravitational force on a satellite greater or less when it is in a high
orbit than when it is in a low orbit?
Less
ESQ 7 A car rounding a bend travels in an arc of a circle.
a What provides the force to keep the car travelling in a circle? [2]
b Is a larger or a smaller force required if
i the car travels faster [1]
ii the bend is less curved [1]
iii the car has more passengers? [1]
Ans:a Friction between tyres and road [2]

b i larger
ii smaller
iii larger
• ESQ7.c Explain why racing cars are fitted with tyres called ‘slicks’, which
have no tread pattern, for dry tracks and with ‘tread’ tyres for wet tracks.
(c) Slicks allow greater speed in dry conditions but in wet conditions
treads provide frictional force to prevent skidding.
• 1.5.2 Turning effect of forces
• When a force is applied to an object, it can turn the object about a certain
point known as the pivot (or) the fulcrum.
• Example of Turning Effect of Force
kids playing seesaw opening a door of a room

Moment of a Force (or) Torque
A force which acts on a pivoted body at a distance
from the fulcrum(pivot) tends to make that body
rotate.
The turning effect of a force about a particular
fulcrum is measured by the moment of that force (or)
torque.
The unit is the newton metre (Nm).
moment of a force = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot(fulcrum)
In Figure a, a force F acts on a gate at its
edge, and in Figure b it acts at the center.
In Figure a , moment of F about O = 5N × 3m = 15Nm
In Figure b , moment of F about O = 5N × 1.5m = 7.5Nm
• 12 Name the variables you will need to measure in this experiment.
• Ans ; Distances d1 and d 2
• 13 Calculate the moments of a force of 5N acting at a perpendicular distance

from the pivot of (a) 10cm (b) 15cm (c) 30cm.
• Ans: a Moment = 5 N × 10 cm = 50 N cm
• b Moment = 5 N × 15 cm = 75 N cm
• c Moment = 5 N × 30 cm = 150 N cm
• Balancing a beam
To balance a beam about a pivot, like the ruler in Figure, the weights must be
moved so that the clockwise turning effect equals the anticlockwise turning
effect and the net moment on the beam becomes zero.
• Principle of moments (The law of moments) (or) (law of the lever)
When a body is in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments about any
point equals the sum of the anticlockwise moments about the same
point. There is no resultant moment on an object in equilibrium.
Total clockwise moment = Total anticlockwise moment
building site crane

beam balance
Worked example
The seesaw in Figure balances when Shani of weight 320N is at A, Tom of
weight 540N is at B and Harry of weight W is at C. Find W.
• Taking moments about the pivot, O:
anticlockwise moment = (320N × 3m) + (540N × 1m) = 960Nm + 540Nm
= 1500Nm
clockwise moment = w × 3m
By the law of moments,
clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments
∴ w × 3m = 1500Nm
∴ w =1500 Nm/3m
w = 500 N
Levers
A lever is any device which can turn about a pivot. In a working lever a force
called the effort is used to overcome a resisting force called the load.
The pivotal point is called the fulcrum.
Conditions for equilibrium
Sometimes a number of parallel forces act on an object so that it is in
equilibrium.
(i) The sum of the forces in one direction equals the sum of the forces in
the opposite direction.
(ii) The law of moments must apply.
When there is no resultant force and no resultant moment, an object is in
equilibrium.
Test yourself (Home work)
18 A seesaw has a weight of 40N placed 1m from the pivot and a weight of 20N
is placed on the opposite side of the pivot at a distance of 2m from the pivot.
Is the seesaw balanced?
Yes, moments equal.
Clockwise moment = 40 N × 1 m = 40 N m; anticlockwise moment = 20 N × 2
m = 40 N m
19 A half-meter ruler is pivoted at its mid-point and balances when a weight of
20N is placed at the 10cm mark and a weight W is placed at the 45cm
mark on the ruler. Calculate the weight W.
Clockwise moment = W × (45 – 25) cm = W × 20 cm
Anticlockwise moment = 20 N × (25 – 10) cm = 300 N cm
Equating clockwise and anticlockwise moments gives
W × 20 cm = 300 N cm so W = 300 N cm / 20 cm = 15 N
20 The metre ruler in Figure is pivoted at
its centre. If it balances, which of the following
equations gives the mass of M?
A M + 50 = 40 + 100
B M × 40 = 100 × 50
C M × 50 = 100 × 40
D M/50 = 40/100
• 21 A seesaw has a weight of 60N placed 0.5m from the pivot and a
weight of 20N is placed on the opposite side of the pivot at a distance
of 1.5m from the pivot. Is the seesaw balanced? Justify your answer.
Yes; clockwise moment = 60 N × 0.5 m = 30 N m
anticlockwise moment = 20 N × 1.5 m = 30 N m
22 The beam shown in Figure 1.5.26 is balanced with weights of 160N,
120N and W in the positions shown. Calculate the value of W.
clockwise moment = w × 3
Anticlockwise moment =160 × 3 + 120 × 1
= 480 + 120 = 600 N m
clockwise moment = Anticlockwise moment
W = 600 N m / 3 m
= 200 N
ESQ9 Figure shows three positions of the pedal on a bicycle which has a crank
0.20m long. The cyclist exerts the same vertically downward push of 25N with
his foot. Calculate the turning effect in a A , b B , c C
Moment of force = force × perpendicular distance from pivot

a .A: perpendicular distance = 0
moment = 0 Nm
b B:
Taking crank to be at 45° to vertical,
perpendicular distance = 0.2 cos 45° m

= 0.1414...m
Moment = force × perpendicular distance
from pivot
Moment = 25 x 0.1414= 3.5 Nm

c C:Moment = force × perpendicular
distance from pivot
perpendicular distance = 0.2 m
moment = 0.2 m × 25 N = 5 Nm
ESQ10 The weight of the uniform bar in Figure 1.5.39 is 10N.
a Calculate the clockwise moment about the pivot. [3]
b Calculate the anticlockwise moment about the pivot. [3]
c Does the beam balance, tip to the right or tip to the left?
Taking moments about pivot:

a. clockwise moment = 10 N × (50 – 40) cm = 10 N × 10 cm = 100 N cm
b. anticlockwise moment = 3 N × (40 –10) cm = 3 N × 30 cm = 90 N cm
c. clockwise moment is greater than anticlockwise moment so beam tips to
right

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Friction

-Friction (drag) acts on an object moving through gas (air resistance),

-Friction (drag) acts on an object moving through a liquid. Drag increases

14 a Explain the conditions under which friction occurs.

Ans:a Friction between tyres and road [2]

• Example of Turning Effect of Force

kids playing seesaw opening a door of a room

• 13 Calculate the moments of a force of 5N acting at a perpendicular distance

building site crane

Moment of force = force × perpendicular distance from pivot

perpendicular distance = 0.2 cos 45° m

Moment = 25 x 0.1414= 3.5 Nm

perpendicular distance = 0.2 m

Taking moments about pivot:

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