Research Project (Friction)

Group members
Athir Razin, Nizar Nazran, Jeraiah Khor, Aaron Soh, Nathan Nair, Seann Pang, Joel Yang

Introduction
Friction is the resistance caused by the movement of one object against another believed to be
the result of electromagnetic attraction in the middle of two touching surfaces that contains
charged particles (Ghose, 2013).

Aim
To observe frictional force and how it is affected by different factors causing a change in its
magnitude

Hypothesis
The limiting friction is directly proportional to the normal reaction therefore when weight is
added onto an object, to move it, the minimum amount of mass needed to overcome the
coefficient of static friction is also increased therefore it requires more force.

Apparatus
 Mass balance
 Box of weights
 Weight hanger
 Light string
 Piece of wood B
 Wooden block with hooked attached A
 Grooved wheel C (Pulley)
 Aluminium foil
 Sand paper
 Parchment paper
 Wooden Block A
Weights

Grooved wheel C Wooden plank B

Weight hanger Light String

Method
(Part 1)
First the mass of both the wooden block with hook and the weight hanger is measured by
using the mass balance. The light string was then used to attach the hook of wooden block A
to the weight hanger, after it was set the light string was made sure to run through wheel C.
Wooden block A was then placed opposite of wheel C on the end of wood plank B. This
point was then marked with a pencil to ensure data accuracy. Using the box of weights,
weights were carefully added onto the weight hanger until wooden block A began to slide.
The total amount of weight used was then recorded and the experiment was repeated to
acquire an average. 100g was then added onto block A before carefully adding weights onto
the weight hanger until block A began to slide. Weights on block A was then increased one
more time at 200g and between every weight change the experiment was done at least 3 times
to obtain an average.

(Part 2)
The masses of the wooden block A and the weight hanger was measured again using the mass
balance. The experiment was then set up with the largest surface area of block A on Wooden
Plank B opposite of wheel C just like in the first part of the experiment. This position was
marked. The string was then used to attach the weight hanger on the hook of wooden block
A. the string was then made sure to run through pulley C. Weights were then carefully added
onto the weight holder until the wooden block A started to slide. The weight used on the
weight holder was then recorded and the experiment was repeated however this time weight
was added onto wooden block A. this was done at least 3 times with an increase in weight on
wooden block A between every interval. Once this was completed the procedure was
repeated at the same marked position however this time the side of block A which has a
smaller surface area was placed onto wooden plank B. The weights added onto the weight
hanger was recorded and was repeated again 3 times and finally the data collected from the
experiment with the larger surface area and smaller surface area was compared.

(Part 3)
The mass of wooden block A and weight hanger was measured using a mass balance.
Parchment paper was then placed onto wooden plank B and wooden block A was placed on
top of it. The light string was then used to attach the weight hanger to the hook of wooden
block A and it was made sure to run through wheel C. The weights were then gently added
until wooden block A began sliding. The weight used on the weight hanger was then recorded
and the experiment was repeated 3 times to find an average. The procedure was then repeated
however instead of using parchment paper, sand paper and aluminium foiled was used with
every interval repeating 3 times before changing the type of surface wooden block A was on.
The data recorded was then used to compare the amount of weight used and the type of
surface wooden block A was on to find which which surface affected the greatest magnitude
of friction.
Data
(Part 1)
Wooden Block A = 562.57g
Weight holder = 50g
Mass added on Total mass of Mass on weight Normal Total weight used
wooden block A (g) wooden block A holder including reaction (N) to pull wooden
(g) mass of weight block A (N)
holder(g)
0 562.57 110 5.52 1.57
100 662.57 200 6.5 2.45
200 762.57 270 7.48 3.14

(Part 2)
Wooden block A =562.57g
Weight holder = 50g
Larger surface area of wooden block A = 97.35cm2
Smaller surface area of wooden block A = 34.81cm2

Larger surface area

Mass added on Total mass of Mass on weight Normal reaction Total weight used to
wooden block A wooden block A holder including (N) pull wooden block A
(g) (g) mass of weight (N)
holder(g)
0 562.57 160 5.52 1.57
100 662.57 250 6.50 2.45
200 762.57 320 7.48 3.14
Smaller surface area
Mass added on Total mass of Mass on weight Normal reaction Total weight used to
wooden block A wooden block A holder including (N) pull wooden block A
(g) (g) mass of weight (N)
holder(g)
0 562.57 150 5.52 1.47
100 662.57 230 6.50 2.26
200 762.57 310 7.48 3.04

(Part 3)
Wooden block A = 562.57g
Weight holder = 50g
Mass of wooden Type of surface Mass on weight Average mass Total weight
block A (g) holder including on weight used to pull
mass of weight holder(g) wooden block A
holder(g) (N)
Parchment 265 280 2.75
paper 295
562.57 Sand paper 450 460 4.51
470
Aluminium foil 180 190 1.86
200

Analysis
(Part 1)
Mass added on wooden block A (0g):
𝑤ⅇⅈ𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g
= 0.56257 kg
Normal force = (0.56257) (9.81)
= 5.518 N
Mass including weight holder = 160g
 = 0.16 kg
Total weight to pull wooden block A = (0.16) (9.81)
=1.5696 N

Mass added on wooden block A (100g):

𝑤ⅇⅈ𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g + 100g
= 662.57g
= 0.66257 kg
Normal force = (0.66257) (9.81)
= 6.4998 N
Mass including weight holder = 250g
= 0.25 kg
Total weight to pull wooden block A = (0.25) (9.81)
= 2.4525 N

Mass added on wooden block A (200g):

𝑤ⅇⅈ𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g + 200g
= 762.57g
= 0.76257 kg
Normal force = (0.76257) (9.81)
= 7.4808 N
Mass including weight holder = 320g
= 0.32 kg
Total weight to pull wooden block A = (0.32) (9.81)
= 3.1392 N

(Part 2)
Larger surface area:
𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐ⅇ 𝑎𝑟ⅇ𝑎 = 16.5 × 5.9𝑐𝑚2
= 97.35 cm2
Calculations for wooden block with larger surface area done the identical way as part 1
Smaller surface area:
𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐ⅇ 𝑎𝑟ⅇ𝑎 = 5.9 × 5.9𝑐𝑚2
= 34.81 cm2

Mass added on wooden block A (0g):

𝑤ⅇⅈ𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g
= 0.56257 kg
Normal force = (0.56257) (9.81)
= 5.518 N
Mass including weight holder = 150g
= 0.15 kg
Total weight to pull wooden block A = (0.15) (9.81)
= 1.4715 N

Mass added on wooden block A (100g):

𝑤ⅇⅈ𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g + 100g
= 662.57g
= 0.66257 kg
Normal force = (0.66257) (9.81)
= 6.4998 N
Mass including weight holder = 230g
= 0.23 kg
Total weight to pull wooden block A = (0.23) (9.81)
= 2.2563 N
Mass added on wooden block A (200g):
𝑤ⅇⅈ𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g + 200g
= 762.57g
= 0.76257 kg
Normal force = (0.76257) (9.81)
= 7.4808 N
Mass including weight holder = 310g
= 0.31 kg
Total weight to pull wooden block A = (0.31) (9.81)
= 3.0411 N

(Part 3)
Constants:
Mass of wooden block A = 562.57g
= 0.56257 kg
Normal force = (0.56257) (9.81)
= 5.518 N

Aluminium foil:
180+200
Average mass including weight holder = 2

= 190 g
= 0.19 kg
Average weight including weight holder = (0.19) (9.81)
= 1.8639 N
Parchment paper:
265+295
Average mass including weight holder = 2

= 280 g
= 0.28 kg
 Average weight including weight holder = (0.28) (9.81)
= 2.7468 N

Sandpaper:
450+470
Average mass including weight holder = 2

= 460 g
= 0.46 kg
Average weight including weight holder = (0.46) (9.81)
= 4.5126
Discussion
From our results it is evident that as weight increases, more force is required to overcome the
static frictional force furthermore as the surface gets rougher more force is also required to
overcome the frictional force. For Part 1 and 3, our hypothesis is proven to be correct
however for part 2 there is not sufficient evidence and our readings lack accuracy.

There were a few errors that we encountered when proceeding with our experiment because
some factors were not taken into consideration, such as the friction not able to be a constant.
This was because whenever wooden block A was placed onto wooden plank B between
intervals, some areas that weren’t in contact before is now in contact which affects the
frictional force needed to overcome. Furthermore, the weights when added must be done
gently due to the fact that dropping it will create a much larger force and will cause wooden
block A to move hence giving an inaccurate reading. Lastly, inaccurate or anomaly results
could’ve been the product of when members of the group would slightly bang against the
table causing an increase of force that at times would move wooden block A. this disturbs the
friction between the 2 surfaces

To overcome these errors or reduce it, friction since it is unable to be a constant, an average
can be calculated to obtain more precise readings and the wooden block should be left on the
wooden plank for at least 5 seconds before adding more weight. When adding weights it is
best to have an individual with a steady hand or carefully lower the weight, this is to avoid
inaccurate readings that’s created by dropping weights which produces a larger force then
what it actually is. Moreover when conducting the experiment, everyone should step away
from the table to ensure no added external friction is caused by banging on the table. This
will produce accurate and precise readings by taking more factors into consideration and
keeping them as a controlled variable.
Conclusion
The hypothesis is accepted, the weight is directly proportional to the force needed to
overcome frictional force therefore as weight increases, more mass needs to be added to
move wooden block A.

Reference
https://www.livescience.com/37161-what-is-friction.html
https://studylib.net/doc/8625768/lab-report-friction
https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/physics/concepts/friction/factors-affecting-
friction