Friction Lab - p1 of 3
SPH3U1
Date: Name:
Friction Investigation
Partners Names:
Purpose:
Apparatus: newton spring scales, hooked wooden blocks with known mass, sandpaper, rubber mat,
metre stick, protractor, four 50g slotted masses, assorted masses
Procedure:
Part A: The Coefficient of Kinetic Friction
1. Record the number and mass of the wooden block in the table provided.
2. Slide the block along the counter at constant velocity and record the applied force in the table.
3. Add a slotted mass to the block and repeat step 2.
4. Repeat step 3 until five data values are obtained. (Note: Each time a new mass is added to the
block, the former masses are kept on. By the 5th trial, there will be 4 masses on the block.)
5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4, sliding the block along the carpet, rubber mat and the sandpaper.
Part B: The Coefficient of Static Friction
1. Select 3 items (e.g. hooked wooden block, rubber stopper and slotted mass)
2. One at a time, place the item on the metre stick at approximately the 50cm mark and slowly
elevate the metre stick until the item just begins to slide.
3. Measure the angle the metre stick makes with the lab bench at that point where the item just
begins to slide and record it in the table.
Part C: Does Surface Area Matter?
1. Turn the wooden block on its side and slide it along the counter. Record the applied force needed
to slide the block at constant velocity.
2. Repeat step 1 with the carpet, rubber mat and the sandpaper.
TIP: do parts A and C at the same time when you have a surface.
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Data Tables for Friction Investigation
Block # Block Mass (kg)
Part A – Wood On Counter
Total Mass (kg) Force of Gravity (N) Applied Force (N) Force of Friction (N) Normal Force (N)
[direction] [direction] [direction] [direction]
Wood On Rubber Mat
Total Mass (kg) Force of Gravity (N) Applied Force (N) Force of Friction (N) Normal Force (N)
[direction] [direction] [direction] [direction]
Wood On Sandpaper
Total Mass (kg) Force of Gravity (N) Applied Force (N) Force of Friction (N) Normal Force (N)
[direction] [direction] [direction] [direction]
Part B
Item Placed on Metre Stick Angle at which item begins to slide
Part C
Applied Force (N)
Wood on Counter
Wood on Carpet
Wood on Rubber Mat
Wood on Sandpaper
Analysis:
1. Using the data from Part A, draw 4 graphs of Force of Friction versus Normal Force (i.e. a
separate graph for each wood/surface combination). Place the Force of Friction on the vertical axis
Friction Lab - p3 of 3
SPH3U1
and the Normal Force on the horizontal axis. Each graph must be at least a half page in size (i.e.
no more than 2 graphs per page).
2. Draw a best fit straight line on each graph and calculate the slope of each line doing the work
directly on the graph.
3. What does the slope represent?
4. Complete the table below:
Part A – Coefficients of Kinetic Friction
Wood/Rubber
Materials Wood/Counter Wood/Carpet Wood/Sandpaper
Mat
µk
5. Using the data from Part B, complete the table below, considering the derivation on the board:
Part B – Coefficients of Static Friction
Item Name Angle Tangent of Angle µs
6. Using the data from Part C and the data for the unloaded wood block from Part A (i.e. the first line
of data), complete the following table:
Part C – Does Surface Area Matter
Force of Friction (N) Block on Full Face Block on its Side
Wood/Counter
Wood/Carpet
Wood/Rubber Mat
Wood/Sandpaper