DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL ELECTRONIC CITY

SUBJECT: SCIENCE NOTES

CLASS VIII

Friction

Friction is a force that opposes the relative motion between two surfaces of objects in contact. The
force of friction always acts in a direction opposite to that of the applied force.

Causes of Friction: Friction exists between two surfaces due to irregularities on the surfaces of the
objects in contact, interlocking of micro-level irregularities of the two surfaces and ploughing of
harder surfaces into smoother surfaces.

Factors that Affect Friction

• Nature of the surface
• The extent to which the two surfaces press together

Types of Friction:

(i) Static Friction: When a body is at rest, the force of friction is called the static friction and is always
equal and opposite to the applied force. The force of friction which acts when the body is just at the
verge of sliding on the surface is called limiting friction.

(ii) Sliding friction: The friction force which opposes the actual relative sliding motion between two
contact surfaces. Sliding friction is smaller than static friction.

(iii) Rolling Friction: The frictional force that exists between two surfaces when a body rolls over the
other. Rolling friction is smaller than sliding friction.

(iv) Fluid Friction:

• Gases and liquids are generally known as fluid. Similar to solid, fluids also provide friction.
The friction of fluid increases with the speed of object moving through it and speed of fluid.
• Objects which are made to move in fluid are made streamlined shape to reduce friction offered
by fluid.
• The frictional force offered by fluids is called drag.

Effects of Friction

• Friction produces heat.

• Friction causes wear and tear.
• Friction opposes motion.

Advantages of Friction

• Friction between pen and paper enables us to write on the paper.

• Friction between our feet and the ground allows our movements like standing, walking and running.
• Friction between the surface of the road and tyres of our vehicles allow the vehicles to move without
slipping.
Disadvantages of Friction
• Friction causes moving objects to stop or slow down.
• Friction produces heat causing wastage of energy in machines.
• Friction causes wear and tear of moving parts of machinery, soles of shoes, etc.

Friction is a necessary Evil: As friction is advantageous to us it is considered as a friend but due to its
disadvantages it is a foe. Depending on the circumstance, friction can be a help or a hindrance. Thus it
is a necessary evil.

Increasing Friction:
• By pressing the surfaces together more strongly.
For e.g. when brakes are applied on a bicycle or car, the brake pads press against a moving part
of the wheel and the force of friction increases.
• Friction can be increased by increasing the roughness of the surfaces in contact.
For example, treading of shoes and tyres is done to increase friction.

Reducing Friction:
• Friction between the sliding surfaces of two objects can be reduced by making the surfaces in
contact smooth by polishing them.
• Sliding friction between the moving parts of vehicles and machinery can be reduced by using
oil, grease, graphite or any other lubricant.
• Rolling friction is less than sliding friction. Hence, sliding friction is replaced by rolling
friction by using rollers, like ball bearings between the hub and the axles in the moving parts of
machines and vehicles.
• Friction is reduced by providing wheels, e.g. suitcase, school bags of kids, etc.
• Aeroplanes, boats, fishes, and birds which move through fluids have bodies of special shape,
called streamlined shape, so as to reduce the friction due to fluid and avoid energy loss.

Question Answer

Q1- Cartilage is present in joints of our body, which helps in their smooth movement. If cartilage
wears off, how would this affect the movement of joints?
Ans-: Wearing off cartilage will make its surface rough and increase the friction. As a result, the
movement of joints will become difficult which may lead to joint pains.

Q2- How brake stop moving bicycles and automobiles?

Ans-: When we press the brake lever, the brake pads arrest the motion of the rim due to friction and
the wheel stops moving. This is how brake stops moving bicycles and automobiles.

Q3- We use ball bearings between the hub and axle of ceiling fan and bicycles. Why?
Ans-: The rolling friction is smaller than the sliding friction. In most machines, sliding is replaced by
rolling by using ball bearings to reduce friction. This is why ball bearings are used between the hub
and axle of ceiling fan and bicycle.

Q4- Suppose your writing desk is tilted a little, a book kept on it starts sliding down. Show the
direction of frictional force acting on it.
Ans. The book moves downwards. The frictional force is acting opposite to the movement of book. So
it acts upwards.
Q5-You spill a bucket of soapy water on a marble floor accidently. Would it make easier or more
difficult to walk on the floor? Why?
Ans. The layer of soap makes floor smooth due to which the friction is reduced and the foot cannot
make a proper grip on the floor. Therefore, it is difficult to walk on a soapy floor and we start to slip
on the floor.

Q.6 Explain why sportsmen use shoes with spikes.

Ans. Sportsmen use shoes with spike to increase the friction between shoes and the surface. The shoes
with spike do not slip while they run or play.

Q.7. Iqbal has to push a lighter box and Seema has to push a similar heavier box on the same floor.
Who will have to apply a larger force and why?
Ans. The heavy object will be pressed hard against the opposite surface and produces more friction. So
Seema will have to apply a larger force due to more friction.

Q.8. Explain why sliding friction is less than static friction.

Ans. The two sliding objects find less time to get interlocked against each other (objects and
irregularities of surface). So they get less friction. Therefore sliding friction is always less than static
friction.

Q.9. Explain why objects moving in fluids must have special shape.
Ans. The object moving in fluids must have a special shape. This type of shape is called streamlined
shape. The streamlined shape helps to overcome the friction between objects and fluids. The objects
have pointed fronts with little broader middle portion which gets tapered at the back.