ASSIGNMENT 3: MODULE 3

1. Define friction. What are the different types of friction?

2. Define coefficient of friction. What do you mean by limiting friction?

3. Differentiate between angle of friction and cone of friction.

4. What is impending motion? Define angle of repose.

5. What are the harmful effects of friction?

6. Why coefficient of dynamic friction is less than that of static friction?

7. State the laws of friction.

8. Write short note on: (a) Angle of repose (b) Cone of friction.

9. A block of mass 5 kg is placed on a rough horizontal surface with a coefficient of friction of 0.3. What is
the force required to overcome friction?

10. Define the coefficient of friction and write its formula.

11. A block of mass 10 kg is pushed on a horizontal surface with a force of 30 N. If the coefficient of static
friction is 0.4, will the block move? Justify your answer.

12. Explain why it is easier to pull a heavy object on wheels rather than sliding it.

13. Why is the force of kinetic friction generally less than the force of static friction?

14. A block is resting on an inclined plane. What is the angle of inclination at which the block will be on
the verge of sliding?

15. What is the maximum possible value for the force of static friction?

16. Why does the coefficient of friction not have any units?

17. How would you reduce friction in a mechanical system? Give two examples.

18. A body weighs 50 N. The force required to just move it on a horizontal surface is 20 N. Calculate the
coefficient of static friction.

19. Distinguish between rolling friction and sliding friction.

20. What is the direction of the friction force relative to the direction of motion?
1. A body weighing 200 N is placed on a rough horizontal surface. A horizontal force of 130 N is applied
to cause impending motion. Determine the coefficient of friction and the resultant reaction.
2. A pull force of 180 N applied upward at a 30∘ angle to a rough horizontal plane is required to just
move a body. A push force of 220 N applied along the same line of action is also required to just move
the same body. Determine the weight of the body and the coefficient of friction.

3. Two bodies, with weights w1=75N and w2=75N, are connected by a string on an inclined plane. The
coefficient of friction for the first body (μ1) is 0.2 and for the second body (μ2) is 0.3. Determine the
angle of the plane (θ) at which sliding will occur.

4. Find the minimum value of the horizontal force P applied to the wedge to hold the system in
equilibrium. The coefficient of friction (μ) is 0.25 at the floor, 0.3 at the wall, and 0.2 between the
blocks.

5. A block weighing 500 N is placed on a rough inclined plane with an angle of inclination of 20∘. The
coefficient of static friction between the block and the plane is 0.3. Determine the minimum force
required to just start the block moving (a) up the plane and (b) down the plane.
6. A ladder of length 5 m and weight 250 N rests against a vertical wall at an angle of 60∘ to the floor.
The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the wall is 0.2, and between the ladder and the floor
is 0.3. A person weighing 600 N wants to climb the ladder. How far can the person climb up the ladder
before it begins to slip?
7. Two blocks, A and B, weighing 100 N and 150 N respectively, are connected by a string and rest on a
horizontal plane. The coefficients of friction are μA=0.2 and μB=0.4. A horizontal force P is applied to
block A. Find the force P required to cause the system to have impending motion and determine the
tension in the string.
8. A wedge of negligible weight is used to lift a block weighing 1000 N. The angle of the wedge is 15∘,
and the coefficient of friction is 0.25 for all surfaces. Determine the minimum horizontal force required
to lift the block.
9. A block of mass 50 kg is placed on a rough horizontal plane. A force is applied to the block at an angle
of 30∘ to the horizontal. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.3, find the magnitude of the force
required to just move the block if the force is applied (a) pulling it and (b) pushing it. Explain why the
two forces are different.
10. A uniform ladder 6 m long and weighing 200 N rests against a smooth vertical wall with its lower end
on a rough horizontal floor. The ladder makes an angle of 60∘ with the floor. A person weighing 500 N
climbs up the ladder. If the coefficient of static friction between the floor and the ladder is 0.4,
determine the maximum distance the person can climb up the ladder before it starts to slip.

1. A wooden block with a mass of 5 kg rests on a horizontal plane. The coefficient of friction (μ) is 0.4.
Determine the force required to move the block by: (a) Pulling it with a force (P) at an angle of 15∘ to
the horizontal. (b) Pushing it with a force (P) at an angle of 15∘ to the horizontal.

11. A uniform ladder AB of length l=20 cm and weight W is supported by a horizontal floor at A and a
vertical wall at B. It makes an angle of 45∘ with the horizontal. The coefficient of friction between the
ladder and the wall is 1/3, and between the ladder and the floor is 1/2. (a) If a man whose weight is one-
half of the ladder's weight ascends the ladder, how much length x of the ladder can he climb before it
slips? (b) If a boy now stands on the end A of the ladder, what must be his least weight "w" so that the
man can go on top of the ladder?
12. Determine the magnitude and direction of the smallest force "P" which will cause a block of weight
"W" to move up an inclined plane. The angle of friction between the block and the plane is ϕ.

13. Two rectangular blocks of weights W1=150 N and W2=100 N are connected by a string and rest on an
inclined plane and a horizontal surface. The coefficient of friction (μ) for all contiguous surfaces is 0.2.
Find the magnitude and direction of the least force P at which the motion of the blocks will impend.

14. A block of weight W1=1000N rests on a horizontal surface and supports on its top another block of
weight W2=250N. The weight W2 is attached by an inclined string AB to the vertical wall. Find the
magnitude of the horizontal force "P" applied to the lower block to cause slipping to impend. The
coefficient of friction for all contacting surfaces may be assumed as 0.3.
15. A rectangular block of mass M rests on a floor. The coefficient of friction between the block and the
floor is μ. What is the highest position for a horizontal force P that would permit the block to just
move without tipping?

7. A rear-wheel-drive car with a mass of 2000 kg is on a road inclined at an angle θ with the horizontal.
If the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road is 0.3, what is the maximum inclination θ
that the car can climb?

8. Two blocks, A and B, with weights of 250 N and 150 N, respectively, rest on a plane that is slowly
raised from a horizontal position to an angle θ. Find the maximum angle that can be reached before the
bodies slip down the incline. Assume the coefficient of friction (μ) between block B and the plane is
0.2, and between block A and the plane is 0.3.
9. Two inclined planes, AC and BC, meet at C. Plane AC is at 60∘ and plane BC is at 30∘ to the
horizontal. A 1000 N load rests on plane BC and is connected by a rope and pulley to a block of weight
W on plane AC. The coefficient of friction is 0.28 on plane BC and 0.2 on plane AC. Find the least and
greatest values of W for the system to remain in equilibrium.

10. A block (A) weighing 600 N is resting on a rough horizontal floor and supports another block (B)
of weight 250 N. The two blocks are connected by a string passing over a smooth pulley. Determine the
required force P to be applied on block A to just move it to the right, and the tension in the string. The
coefficient of friction is 0.2 for all contact surfaces.

11. Find the moment 'M' needed to cause impending motion of a wheel with a weight of 100 N and a
radius of 200 mm. Take the coefficient of friction between the wheel and the plane as 0.3.
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13. A load W is supported at point A by two symmetrically identical rods, AC and BC, which are hinged
together at A. The lower ends of the rods are hinged to two blocks, each with a weight of 1200 N.
These blocks are resting on a rough horizontal floor with a coefficient of friction of 0.25. Neglecting
the weight of the rods, determine the maximum value of W.

14. A semicircular right cylinder with a radius r and weight W rests on a horizontal surface. It is pulled
at a right angle to its geometric axis by a horizontal force P applied at the middle B of the front edge.
Find the angle θ that the flat face will make with the horizontal plane just before sliding begins if the
coefficient of friction at the line of contact A is μ.
15. A ladder 3 m in length and weighing 200 N is placed against a wall with point B at the floor and
point A on the wall. The ladder is inclined at an angle of 60∘ with the floor. The coefficient of friction
between the wall and the ladder is 0.25, and between the floor and the ladder is 0.35. A man weighing
1000 N is resting at the top of the ladder at A. A horizontal force F is applied at the level of the floor to
prevent slipping. Determine the minimum force F required for this condition.