03/02/2024

FRICTION – the contact resistance exerted by one

body upon a second body when the second body
moves or tends to move past the first body. It is a
retarding force always acting opposite to the motion
or the tendency to move. Friction exists primarily
because of the roughness of the contact surfaces.

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F
Max. Available Friction,
Motion impending
N
Friction (F)

Kinetic Friction,
Motion occurring

Static Friction,
No motion
45°

Applied Force (P)

It is apparent that frictional resistance depends

upon the degree of wedging action between the hills
and vales of the contact surfaces. The measure of
this wedging action depends upon the normal
pressure N between the surfaces. As a result, the
maximum frictional resistance is said to be
proportional to the normal pressure N and is
expressed symbolically as

FaN

where the sign a is read as “is proportional to”.

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This may be reduced by putting in a constant of

proportionality, say m, which depends upon the
roughness of the contact surfaces. This constant is
called the coefficient of friction.

F = mN Eq. (1)

Angle of friction is the particular value of the angle

(between the total reaction R and the normal
reaction N) when maximum frictional resistance is
acting. It acts at its maximum value of Ø only when
motion is impending. W

R
N Ø

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Comparing it to Eq. (1), we see that

tan Ø = m Eq. (2)

R
N Ø

From the figure, it is apparent that the angle of

friction may be defined by the relation

tan Ø = F/N
W

R
N Ø

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A summary of the principles discussed may be

called laws of friction and may be stated as follows:
1. If friction is neglected, the reaction are always
normal to the surfaces in contact.
2. Friction always acts to oppose the motion of the
free-body (or its tendency to move). It is tangent to
the surfaces in contact.
3. If static friction is acting, the value of the friction
force may vary from zero to the maximum available
value, depending upon the resultant force tending to
cause motion.

A summary of the principles discussed may be

called laws of friction and may be stated as follows:
4. The maximum available value of static friction is
equal to the msN where ms is the coefficient of static
friction and N is the normal pressure.
5. If kinetic friction is acting, the friction force is
constant at its limiting value.
6. The kinetic friction is equal to mkN where mk is the
coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the normal
pressure.

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A summary of the principles discussed may be

called laws of friction and may be stated as follows:
7. The angle between the total reaction and its
normal component, when limiting friction is acting, is
called the angle of friction. The tangent of this angle
is the coefficient of friction.

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A 200-N block is in contact with a plane inclined at

30° to the horizontal. A force P, parallel to and acting
up to the plane, is applied to the body. If the
coefficient of static friction is 0.20,
(a) Find the value of P to just cause motion to
impend up the plane, and
(b) Find P to just prevent motion down the plane.
(c) If P = 80 N, determine the magnitude and
direction of the friction force.

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A 200-N block is at rest on a 30° incline. The

coefficient of friction between the block and the
incline is 0.20. Compute the value of a horizontal
force P that will cause the motion to impend up the
incline.

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A 200-N block is at rest on a 30° incline. The

coefficient of friction between the block and the
incline is 0.20. Compute the value of a horizontal
force P that will cause the motion to impend up the
incline using the angle of friction and the total
reaction of the incline on the block instead of its
components F and N.

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The 200-N block is in contact with plane inclined at

30° to the horizontal. It has impending motion up the
plane caused by the horizontal force of 400-N.
Determine the coefficient of static friction between
the contact surfaces.

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What weight W is necessary to start the system of

blocks shown moving to the right? The coefficient of
friction is 0.10 and the pulleys are assumed to be
frictionless.

W
600 N 30°

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A homogeneous block of weight W rests upon the

incline shown. If the coefficient of friction is 0.30,
determine the greatest height h at which force P
parallel to the incline may be applied so that the
block will slide up in the incline without tipping over.

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4

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Find the force P that will cause the system of blocks

shown to be in equilibrium.
800 N 400 N

P m = 0.268

m = 0.40

60°

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T1
= emb
T2

where:
T1 = tight side of the belt
T2 = slack side of the belt
m = coefficient of friction
b = angle of contact, in radians

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A rope wrapped twice around a post will support a

weight of 4000 N when a force of 50 N is exerted at
the other end. Determine the coefficient of friction.

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A differential band brake is used to measure the

torque output of an engine. The dimensions are
shown in the figure below. Determine the torque M
on the brake when P = 10 lb. Assume coefficient of
friction to be 0.20.

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A differential band brake is used to measure the

torque output of an engine. The dimensions are
shown in the figure below. Determine the torque M
on the brake when P = 10 lb. Assume coefficient of
friction to be 0.20.

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In the figure below, the coefficient of friction is 0.20

between the rope and the fixed drum and between
all surfaces in contact. Determine the minimum
weight W to prevent down plane motion of the 1000N
body.

3
4

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A wedge is something solid that is usable as an

inclined plane (shaped like a V) that can be pushed
between two things to separate them.

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The block A supports a load W = 1000 lb and is to be

raised by forcing the wedge B under it. The angle of
friction for all surfaces in contact is Ø = 15°. Find the
force P which necessary to start the wedge under
the block. W

P
B
20°

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If the wedge had a weight of 400 lb, what value of P

would required to start the wedge under the block?
To pull the wedge out from under the block? The
angle of friction for all surfaces in contact is Ø = 15°.
W = 1000 lb

P
B
20°

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Two blocks, each weighing 200 N and resting on a

horizontal surface, are to be pushed apart by a 30°
wedge. The angle of friction is 15° for all contact
surfaces. What value of P is required to start the
movement of the blocks?
P

15° 15°

200 N 200 N

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