FRICTION - PART 2 (Core: Class 11–12 Concepts)
Inclined Planes | Angle of Friction | Angle of Repose | Pulley-Block Systems
1. Friction on an Inclined Plane
Consider a block of mass m on an inclined plane with angle θ.
Forces:
- Normal Reaction: N = m g cosθ
- Component of weight along plane: m g sinθ
- Friction force (opposing motion): f ≤ µ N
Case 1: Block just at rest → f = m g sinθ
Case 2: Block starts sliding → m g sinθ > µ m g cosθ
Acceleration: a = g(sinθ - µ cosθ)
High-Level Knowledge:
- Critical angle θc satisfies tanθc = µ.
- For θ > θc, sliding occurs; for θ < θc, block remains at rest.
2. Angle of Friction & Angle of Repose
Angle of Friction (φ): The angle between normal reaction (N) and resultant contact force.
Formula: tanφ = µ.
Angle of Repose (θr): The maximum angle of incline at which body remains at rest.
Formula: tanθr = µ.
Thus, φ = θr.
High-Level Knowledge:
- Proof: At limiting equilibrium, m g sinθ = µ m g cosθ → tanθ = µ.
- Hence angle of friction = angle of repose.
3. Pulley-Block Systems with Friction
In systems of two blocks connected by string over pulley:
- Consider free body diagram of each block.
- Friction acts on the block in contact with surface.
- Tension is same in string (ideal pulley, massless string).
Equation of motion:
For block on surface: T - f = m1 a
For hanging block: m2 g - T = m2 a
High-Level Knowledge:
- Limiting case: T = µ m1 g for just starting motion.
- For wedge-block systems, pseudo force concept is often required.
- JEE Advanced often asks multi-block + friction cases.