1 PURPOSE

Through the conducted experiment, main aim is to observe the frictional forces that are

generated on the objects at different stages of the motion. Here two frictional coefficients are

observed which is kinetic friction coefficient related with moving objects. Other one is the

static friction coefficient which is related with the objects that are at rest where a force is

added on the object. For the conducted experiment, a force measuring sensor is used for

observing the force added on the object and using this value, it was obtained the frictional

forces that are acting on the object.

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2 THEORY:

Case 1

When there is a force acting on an object while the object is at rest, there will be a frictional

force generated on the object which is identified as the static friction. This value increases

with the acting force on the object where at a certain stage of increasing the applied force,

maximum value of the kinetic force reaches. Here static frictional force is equal and opposite

in direction with the applied force on the object. (htt26)

≤µx

Case 2

When object is at motion due to an applied force, there will be a frictional force acting on the

object which is known as the kinetic frictional force. Kinetic frictional force is little lower

than the maximum value of the static frictional force.

=µ ∗

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3 APPARATUS

For the experimental apparatus, it was used disc where masses can be loaded on the disk for

each trial. Two strings are used where disc is attached with the force sensor and another

string is attached with the force sensor for pulling the system. A vernier motion detector and

vernier computer interface is used within the apparatus for recording the data collected

through the sensors. A balance is used for measuring the weights that are loaded on the disc.

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4 PROCEDURE:

Part 1

 At the beginning of the experiment, masses used are measured using the weight balance.

 Secondly used force sensor and the disc is connected using a string that is attached

with the hook on the disk.


 Range for the used force sensor is adjusted for a value of 50 N and then a mass of 1

kg is placed on the disc.


 Using the string that is attached with the force sensor, a gentle pull is applied and then

it was increased till object starts moving.

Part 2

 At the beginning of the experiment, masses used are measured using the weight balance.

 Secondly used force sensor and the disc is connected using a string that is attached

with the hook on the disk.


 Range for the used force sensor is adjusted for a value of 50 N and then a mass of 1

kg is placed on the disc.


 Using the string that is attached with the force sensor, a gentle pull is applied and then

it was increased till object starts moving.


 Same way experiment is conducted for different masses placed on the disc.

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5 RESULTS

Values of static friction

Mass on disc (g) Static friction value (N) Normal force (N) Average static force (N)

0.0 0.28800 3.15400 0.90800

200.0 0.34100 5.11600 1.74500

400.0 0.36400 7.07790 2.57800

600.0 0.30200 9.03090 2.73000

800.0 0.29900 11.00200 3.29900

1000.0 0.27200 12.96400 3.53900

Values of kinetic friction

Mass on disc (g) Static friction value (N) Normal force (N) Average static force (N)

0.0 0.27900 3.15400 0.87900

200.0 0.28600 5.11600 1.46100

400.0 0.32800 7.07790 2.32400

600.0 0.30300 9.03990 2.73500

800.0 0.28800 11.00200 3.17400

1000.0 0.26100 12.94600 3.37700

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5.1 Graphs

5.1.1 Static friction value Vs normal force

Static Friction Force Vs Normal Force

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3.5
y = 0.2617x + 0.3578
3
Static friction force

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Normal force

Static Friction Vs Normal Force Linear (Static Friction Vs Normal Force)

5.1.2 Kinetic friction value Vs normal force

Kinetic Friction Force Vs Normal Force

4

3.5 y = 0.2631x + 0.2054

3
Kinetic frictional force

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Normal Force

Static Friction Vs Normal Force Linear (Static Friction Vs Normal Force)

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6 DATA ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

Summarized results

Percentage difference (µs) 15.8 %

Percentage difference (µk) 9.5 %

Within the obtained experimental results, initially it was observed the value of static

frictional coefficient. Through the calculations, it was obtained an average value of 0.31 as

the static frictional coefficient where obtained value through the graph was taken as 0.26.

Between the two values, it was obtained a percentage discrepancy value of 15.8 % which can

be observed as considerably higher than 10 % margin which is defined as the experimental

error limits. Since obtained percentage discrepancy has a much larger value and not within

the expected error margin, obtained results for the experimental static frictional coefficient

can be considered as not accurate.

Secondly it was observed the value of kinetic frictional coefficient. Through the calculations,

it was obtained an average value of 0.29 as the kinetic frictional coefficient where obtained

value through the graph was taken as 0.26. Between the two values, it was obtained a

percentage discrepancy value of 9.5 % which can be observed as smaller than the 10 %

margin which is defined as the experimental error limits. Since obtained percentage

discrepancy has a much smaller value and within the expected error margin, obtained results

for the experimental static frictional coefficient can be considered as accurate.

When observing the obtained graph between the kinetic friction and normal force, it can be seen

that there is a linear relation between the kinetic friction and normal force. Here normal force is

obtained from the weight of the masses added on the disc. Therefore here it can be said that

kinetic frictional force obtained is proportional with the applied weight on the disc where

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this can be validated from the equation of “ = µ ∗ " where kinetic frictional force can be observed as proportional to the normal force acting
on the object.

Through the conducted experiment, it was observed several errors that belonged to two

sources of errors. A random intrinsic type error was generated through the results when

measuring the weight of the masses where used weight scale was not calibrated and this gave

less precise readings. Surface profile of the table was not constant at every location and this

affected the generated experimental results through varying the acted frictional force on the

object. this error was observed as a systematic type intrinsic error.

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7 APPENDIX

7.1 Sample calculation

Percentage discrepancy for the measured and calculated values of static frictional coefficient.
% = |µ2 − µ1| x 100 %
µ1

= |0.31 − 0.26| x 100 % 0.31

= . %

Percentage discrepancy for the measured and calculated values of k frictional coefficient.
% = |µ2 − µ1| x 100 %
µ1

= |0.29 − 0.26| x 100 % 0.29

= . %

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8 REFERENCES

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~gan/teaching/spring99/C6.pdf

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