FORCE OF FRICTION Ways to minimize friction

1. Friction is the force involved when surfaces are rubbing 1. Much research is being carried out in the industry on ways
to reduce friction.
2. Whenever two or more surfaces are in contact with each
other, there is a force called the force of friction that acts 2. Friction can be
between them. minimized by:

3. Stationary surfaces: static friction a. Smoothening the moving

parts.
Moving surfaces: dynamic friction
b. Using ball and roller
bearings between the
moving parts.
Properties of friction
c. Using a lubricant
1. It always opposes motion. between the surfaces, for
example, engine oil and
2. It produces heat wherever it acts.
grease is used to lubricate
engines.

Friction as useful.

1. In everyday activities for eg. Walking Frictional force depends on:

a. Foot moving backwards: force exerted 1. the materials in contact

on ground by foot, backwards
Glass gives rise to less friction than wood.
b. Foot in contact with ground: force of friction acts
2. the nature of the surfaces
c. Force of friction: force ground
The rougher the surface, the more friction it provides.
exerts on foot, forwards by Newtons 3rd law
3. the force pressing the surfaces in contact
It is the force of friction between the foot and the ground
that propels the walker forward. In the case of horizontal movement, the pressing force is the
weight.

Note that friction is independent of the area of contact

Classwork:

Using the same reasoning, show how the force of friction

enables a vehicle to move forward.

Friction as a nuisance

1. Friction produces heat.

a. When the moving parts of machines are working, the

friction acting between them dissipates heat in them.

b. The cycles of heating and cooling develop stress in the

moving parts and eventually damage them.

2. Friction causes wear and tear.

a. Moving parts of machines experiencing friction are usually

worn up with time.

b. For eg., a bicycle braking pad has to be eventually

replaced after some time of use.

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Friction and road safety

When a driver sees the traffic lights, the distance he covers

before stopping is called the stopping distance.

Stopping distance depends on many factors. It consists of

two parts:

1. the thinking distance

It is the distance covered by the driver before he reacts to

the situation (ie, he applies the brakes). It is depends on the
reaction time of the driver.

Thinking distance = initial speed of vehicle reaction time of

driver

Typical value of reaction time = 0.6 s

2. the braking distance

It is the distance covered by the driver from the time he

apply the brakes until the vehicle stops.

The braking distance is depends on the initial speed of the

vehicle.

The brakes convert the vehicles KE into heat.

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Work done by brakes = energy converted Typical stopping distances dry road, good brakes and good
reaction time
Fd = mv2
Initial Thinking Braking Stopping
where: F: force applied by brakes speed distance distance distance
m/s m m m
d: braking distance
10 7 (1.5 cars) 8 (2 cars) 15
d = (mv2)/2F 20 14 (3 cars) 32 (7.5 cars) 46
30 21 (4.5 cars) 72 (16.5 cars) 93
d = (m/2F). v2

d v2

If a vehicle is going at three times the

speed, the braking distance is nine times
as long. It is particularly this factor that
contributes to the damage met by
vehicles upon meeting with an accident.

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance

Role of friction in road safety Exercise PFY P 144 Ex. 34

1. The force of friction plays a major part in the stopping The table shows the thinking distance for various speeds.
distance of a vehicle. There is friction:
Thinking distance / m 0 9 12 15
a. between the tyres and the road
Speed /(km/h) 0 48 64 80
b. the brakes and the wheel.
a. Draw a graph of thinking distance (y-axis) against speed
2. Friction between the tyres and the road depends on:
(x-axis)
a. the tyre condition poorly maintained tyres (eg. Worn out,
b. Describe how the thinking distance changes with speed.
less or more tyre pressure, inadequate tyres) experience less
friction and this increases braking distance.
c. A driver drinks 2 pints of beer. Some time later, the
thinking time of the driver was measured as 1.0 s.
b. the road condition poor road condition (eg. Rain, snow,
mud slippery) decreases friction and increases braking
1. Calculate the thinking distance for this driver when driving
distance.
at 9 m/s.
3. Friction between the brakes and the wheels depends on:
2. A speed of 9 m/s is the same as 32 km/h. Use your graph
a. the condition of the driver abnormal condition of driver to find the thinking distance at 32 km/h for a driver who has
(eg. tired, drugged, drunk, old age) increases reaction time not had a drink.
and thus thinking distance.
3. What has been the effect of the drink on the thinking
distance of the driver?
b. the condition of the brakes poorly maintained brakes
increases braking distance.

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