Friction

Whenever the surface of a body slides over that of another, each body exerts a force of
friction on the other, parallel to the surfaces. The force of friction on each body is in a
direction opposite to its motion relative to the other body.

The force of friction comes into action only when there is a relative motion between the
two contact surfaces or when an attempt is made to have it.

It is a self adjusting force, it can adjust its magnitude to any value between zero and the
limiting (maximum) value i.e

0 ≤ f ≤ fmax

static friction

The frictional force acting between any two surfaces at rest with respect to each other is
called the force of static friction.

kinetic friction or sliding friction.

The frictional force acting between any two surfaces in relative motion with respect to
each other is called the force of kinetic friction or sliding friction.

Factors Affecting Friction

Friction is a force that is dependent on external factors. Following are the two factors on
which friction depends:
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.
2. On the force that is acting on these surfaces
Friction increases when the force is applied along with the irregularities.
 LAWS OF FRICTION

Laws of limiting friction

There are four laws of limiting friction. They are stated below:

1. First Law (law for direction). Limiting friction acts tangential to the surfaces in contact,
in backward direction (i.e., opposite to direction of motion).
2. Second Law (law for magnitude). Limiting friction is directly proportional to the normal
reaction acting on the body.

3. Third Law (law of dependence). Limiting friction depends upon the nature (rough or
polished) and the material (hard or soft) of the surfaces in contact.
4. Fourth Law (law for independence). Limiting friction is independent of the area and the
shape of the surfaces in contact.

Coefficient of friction
Definition. The limiting friction is directly proportional to the normal reaction. If F be
the limiting friction and R be the normal reaction, then
μ =F/R
F=μ R
Here μ is called coefficient of friction, μ does not has unit and dimensions because it is
the ratio, of two like physical quantities.
The limiting (or maximum) force of friction is proportional to the normal force that
keeps the two surfaces in contact with each other, and is independent of the area of
contact between the two surfaces. Mathematically,

fmax = µN

PROPERTIES OF FRICTION

1. If the body does not move, then the static frictional force fs and the external force F
parallel to the surface are equal in magnitude and fs is directed opposite to F.

2. The maximum value of static friction is given by fs (max) = µsN

where µs = static coefficient of friction and N is the magnitude of the normal reaction.

If the external force F exceeds fs(max) then the body slides on the surface.

3.If the body begins to slide along the surface, the magnitude of the frictional force
rapidly decreases to a constant value of fk given by

fk = µkN

where µk is the coefficient of kinetic friction.

3.If the body begins to slide along the surface, the magnitude of the frictional force
rapidly decreases to a constant value of fk given by

fk = µkN (6.7)

where µk is the coefficient of kinetic friction.

(a) (b) (c)

(e)
(d)

(a)The friction force on a stationary block is zero.

(b)As long as the external force is less than the maximum friction force, fs = F.

(c)At the limiting case fs(max) = F, the block is about to slide.

(d) As the value of F slightly increases beyond fs(max) , the block “breaks away”
accelerating suddenly to the right.

(e) If the block is to move with a constant velocity, the applied force must be reduced,
because μk < μs.

Types of Friction
There are four types of friction and they are classified as follows:

 Static friction

Nature of static friction:

1. It is a self-acting force. It acts by itself.
2. It is a self-adjusting force. It adjusts its magnitude and direction to keep itself always
equal and opposite to the horizontal force applied to move the body at rest
3. It has a limiting value (maximum value) called limiting friction. The limiting friction is
equal to the least force required to move the body from rest.

Dynamic (or kinetic) friction. It is the friction between two surfaces of bodies in
motion. It is slightly less than the static friction.

Dynamic friction has two types :

(i) Sliding friction. It is the friction in sliding motion.
(ii) Rolling friction. It is the friction in rolling motion.
Rolling friction is less than the sliding friction

Friction is evil
Though friction is useful in many fields, it is harmful (evil) in the followings.
1. Due to friction between different parts of a machine, wear and tear of parts take place
and excessive heat is produced. This reduces the life of the machine.
2. Unnecessary, expense of energy to overcome the friction. Hence, output is always less
than input.

Reduction of friction
In cases where friction is taken as an evil, it is desired to reduce it. The friction can be
reduced by following methods :

1. Smoothening the surface by rubbing and polishing. Rubbing reduces height of

elevations. Polishing fills the reduced depth of depressions. In the absence of elevations
and depressions, interlocking reduces. Friction becomes reduced.
But too much smoothness of surfaces in contact increases friction. It is so because the
molecules of the two surfaces come in close contact. Attraction between the molecules
increases, which increases friction.
2. Lubricating the surfaces in contact by a proper lubricant. Lubricant between two
surfaces keeps them separate and prevents interlocking. This reduces friction.
Selection of lubricant must be proper, Grease must be used for heavy bodies, heavy oil
must be used for bodies of moderate weight and light oil must be used for light bodies.
3. Lining the surfaces or surface with soft material. Hard material surfaces have more
friction due to strong forces of attraction between their molecules. (They are hard, be-
cause of this strong force). To reduce friction between them, without effecting their
strength, they are lined (coated) with soft material. Contact between soft material
surfaces experiences less friction.
 Steel wheels of trains are lined with lead to reduce friction between them and steel rail
track.
4. Converting sliding friction into rolling friction. When wheel is mounted direct on axle,
surface of wheel hole slides over axle surface as the wheel rolls [Fig. 7.02 (a)]. There is
more friction. The motion becomes slow.

But when balls (ball bearings) are introduced between axle surface and hole surface of
wheel, situation becomes different [Fig. 7.02 (6)]. Now when the wheel rolls, balls roll
and surface of hole moves over rolling balls. Friction is considerably reduced.
It is for this reason that all movable heavy bodies are provided with wheels at bottom
(examples are hospital bed, stretcher, large-sized suitcases etc.).
5. By streamlining. Friction due to air is reduced by streamlining the shape of the body
moving through air. For example jets, aeroplanes, fast moving cars etc.

Increasing friction
In cases where friction is necessary, it is desired to increase it. The friction can be in-
creased by following methods (which are reverse of reduction methods).

1. Roughening the surface by chiseling it.

2. Sanding the surface.
3. Lining with hard material.
4. Converting rolling friction into sliding friction.
When brakes are applied on a moving vehicle, rolling of wheels stop. Then wheels slide
on the road. Due to friction, vehicle stops.
Angle of friction
Definition. It is the angle that the resultant of limiting friction an<J normal reaction
makes with the normal reaction. It is shown by θ in diagram.

Angle of sliding or angle of repose

Definition. It is the angle of inclination of a rough surface with horizontal, such that a
body kept over it, just starts to sliding down.
Relation. Figure 7.04 shows a body of mass m and weight mg kept on a surface inclined
at an angle θ with horizontal.

Forces acting on the body are also shown in the diagram (Fig. 7.04).
When body just starts to sliding down,
For equilibrium along inclined plane, mg sin θ = F (limiting friction)
For equilibrium along normal to inclined plane, mg,cos θ = R (normal reaction)
 or tan θ = μ
Hence, tangent of angle of repose is equals to the coefficient of static friction.