Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
Module 6 Title: Friction
Module Introduction/Rationale:
In this module, we will discuss the laws of friction, the difference between the static and kinetic
friction, and use the equation of force of friction in solving problem.
Module Outcomes:
CO2: Apply the principles of static equilibrium from the knowledge of resultants.
CO3: Relate the course to other engineering situations that involve the concepts of forces and
moments of forces.
Lesson 1 Title: Laws of Friction
Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of this topic the learner should be able to:
1. define friction
2. identify the difference between static and kinetic friction
3. apply the laws of friction in solving the problem
FRICTION
Friction may be defined as the resistance between two bodies in contact as one body moves or to
move past the other body. Friction is a retarding force always acting opposite to the motion or tendency
to move.
Static and Kinetic Friction
rightward direction
W W W
P P
μ μ Ff μ Ff
φ
N N N R
(a) (b) (c)
Forces acting on a block resting on a horizontal surface are its weight and the normal force.
A small horizontal force P is applied to the block, and its still at rest, there will be a force Ff from
the supporting surface. This resisting force is called force of friction. While the block is at rest, the
friction is called static friction, When motion is impending, the static friction will have its highest
value and is called limiting friction. After motion begins the friction decreases and is called kinetic
friction.
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Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
Force of Friction
Ff = μ N where: Ff = force of friction
μ = coefficient of friction
N = normal pressure
Angle of Friction
Ff
tan φ = where: φ = angle of friction
N
Ff = force of friction
N = normal force
μN
tan φ = tan φ = μ
N
LAWS OF FRICTION
1. If friction is neglected, the reactions are always normal to the surface in contact.
2. The direction of the frictional force is parallel to the surface in contact and is directed to oppose motion
of the free body (or its tendency to move.
3. If static friction is acting, the value of the friction force may vary from zero to the maximum available
value, depending upon the force tending to cause motion.
4. The maximum available value of static friction (the limiting friction when motion impends) is equal to
μS N where μS 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. At moderate speeds, friction
is independent of the velocity. At high speeds, friction decreases as speed increases.
6. The kinetic friction is equal to μK N where μK is the coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the normal
pressure.
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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Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
Sample Problems:
1. A 400-lb block is resting on a rough horizontal surface for which the coefficient of friction is 0.40.
Determine the force P required to cause motion to impend if applied to the block (a) horizontally (b)
downward at 300 with the horizontal and (c) upward at 300 with the horizontal. (d) What minimum
force is required to start motion?
Solution:
rightward direction
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
W = 400 lbs
N = W = 400 lbs
P Ff = μ N = (0.40)(400) = 160 lbs
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
μ = 0.40 Ff
P = Ff = 160 lbs. answer
Solution:
rightward direction
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
W = 400 lbs N = W + P sin 30
0
N = 400 + 0.50 P
Ff = μ N = (0.40)(400 + 0.50 P)
300
Ff = 160 + 0.20 P
P
μ = 0.40 Ff ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
0
P cos 30 = Ff
N 0.87 P = 160 + 0.20 P
P = 238.81 lbs answer
Solution:
rightward direction
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
W = 400 lbs 0
N + P sin 30 = W
P N + 0.50 P = 400
N = 400 – 0.50 P
300
Ff = μ N = (0.40)(400 – 0.50 P)
Ff = 160 – 0.20 P
μ = 0.40 Ff
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
N 0
P cos 30 = Ff
0.87 P = 160 – 0.20 P
P = 149.53 lbs answer
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Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
Based on the solution, the least value of P occurs when the force applied is upward with an angle of 300
along the horizontal. To determine the minimum value of force P it should be applied upward along the
horizontal.
Solution:
rightward direction
tan Ɵ = μ = 0.40
W = 400 lbs Ɵ = 21.800
P ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
Ɵ 0
N + P sin 21.80 = W
N + 0.37 P = 400
μ = 0.40 N = 400 – 0.37 P
Ff
Ff = μ N = (0.40)(400 – 0.37 P)
N Ff = 160 – 0.15 P
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
0
P cos 21.80 = Ff
0.93 P = 160 – 0.15 P
P = 148.15 lbs answer
2. The 200-lb block has impending motion up the plane caused by the horizontal force of 400 lbs.
Determine the coefficient of static friction between the contact surfaces.
upward direction
W = 200 lbs
200 lbs
400 lbs Ff
400 lbs μ=?
300
300
Solution: N
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down Free-Body Diagram (FBD)
N = 200 cos 300 + 400 sin 300
N = 373.21 lbs 300 W = 200 lbs
400 lbs
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
300
0 0
400 cos 30 = Ff + 200 sin 30
Ff
Ff = 246.41 lbs μ=?
Ff = μ N
246.41 = μ (373.21) N
μ = 0.66 answer
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Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
3. Determine the value of the weight which is necessary to start the system of blocks in moving to the
right. The coefficient of friction is 0.10 and the pulleys are assumed to be frictionless.
400 lbs
600 lbs W
0
30
μ = 0.10
Solution: FBD for 600 lb-block:
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
right 600 lbs
N = W = 600 lbs
T1
Ff1 = μ N = (0.10)(600) = 60 lbs
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left μ = 0.10 Ff1
T1 = Ff1 = 60 lbs. N
400 lbs T2
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
up
0
N = 400 cos 30 Ff2
N = 346.41 lbs
T1
Ff2 = μ N = (0.10)(346.41) = 34.64 lbs
μ = 0.10 N
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
0
T2 = Ff2 + 400 sin 30 + T1
T2 = 34.64 + 200 + 60 = 294.64 lbs FBD for 400 lb-block:
400 lbs T2
300
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
T2 = W
W = 294.64 lbs answer T1 T2
Ff2
μ = 0.10
W
N
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Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
4. Two blocks are connected by a solid strut attached to each block with frictionless pins. If the coefficient
of friction under each block is 0.25 and B weighs 270 lbs, compute the minimum weight of A to prevent
motion.
Assume that the block will
A 25 0 move downward
600 270 lbs
μ = 0.25
B
Solution:
250 300
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
PAB 600 N
0 0
N = 270 cos 60 + PAB cos 55 FfB
N = 135 + 0.57 PAB 0
60
FfB = μ N = (0.25)(135 + 0.57 PAB)
FfB = 33.75 + 0.1425 PAB
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left 250 + 300 = 550
270 lbs
PAB 600
0 0
FfB + PAB sin 55 = 270 sin 60
33.75 + 0.1425 PAB + 0.82 PAB = 233. 83
PAB = 207.88 lbs
FfB
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
N = PAB sin 250 + WA N
0
N = (207.88) sin 25 + WA
N = 87.85 + WA
FfA = μ N = (0.25)(87.85 + WA)
WA
FfA = 21.96 + 0.25 WA PAB
leftward
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
0
250
FfA = PAB cos 25
0
21.96 + 0.25 WA = 207.88 cos 25
WA = 665.77 lbs answer
FfA
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Notes in Statics of Rigid Bodies
5. A 55-lb ladder, 14 feet long, rest on a rough floor and against a vertical wall. The ladder starts to slip
when a man weighing 165 lbs has climbed halfway up. If the coefficient of friction is 0.20 at the wall,
find the coefficient of friction at the floor.
B 165 lbs B
7 ft NB
7 ft
7 ft 7 ft FfB 14 ft sin 350=
A 350 55 lbs 8.03
A 350
FfA
NA
Solution:
7 ft cos 350= 5.73
ΣMA = 0
0 = 55(5.73) + 165(5.73) – FfB(11.47) – NB(8.03)
0 = 1260.60 – FfB(11.47) – NB(8.03) 14 ft cos 350 = 11.47
But FfB = μ NB
0 = 1260.60 – μ NB (11.47) – NB(8.03)
0 = 1260.60 – (0.20) NB (11.47) – NB(8.03)
NB = 122.10 lbs
ΣFy = 0 Up = Down
NA + FfB = 165 + 55
NA + (0.20)(122.10) = 165 + 55
NA + (0.20)(122.10) = 165 + 55
NA = 195.58 lbs
ΣFx = 0 Right = Left
FfA = NB
μ NA = NB
μ (195.58) = (122.10)
μ = 0.62 answer