NEHRU SMARAKA VIDYALAYA BANGALORE

Investigatory Project in Physics

Topic:
FRICTION

Submitted to
Ajay Kumar N
Submitted by
Taarun Sridhar
Grade XI

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 NEHRU SMARAKA VIDYALAYA

Certificate
This is to certify that Taarun Sridhar bonafide
student of class XI has successfully
completed the project titled ‘Friction’ in the
laboratory of Nehru Smaraka Vidyalaya prescribed
by the Central Board of Secondary Education for
the AISSCE for the year 2018-19

Teacher in–charge HOD Principal

External Examiner:
Date:
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 Acknowledgement

I wish to express my gratitude to my Physics

teacher who has been instrumental in helping
me complete this project.

I also wish to express my sincere thanks to our

beloved Principal Dr. Arokia Raj. P, The
Management of BIGI for having changed our
focus from exam-based learning to
knowledge-learning which I now understand
will go a long way in moulding my future
ahead for better prospects.

I wish to thank my parents, friends and all

those who have directly or indirectly
contributed towards completion of this
project effectively.

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INDEX

1. Introduction

a. What is Friction? 6

b. Types of Friction 6

c. Consequences of Friction 7

2. Advantages and Disadvantages 8

3. Objective 10

4. Research 10

5. Hypothesis 11

6. Theory 11

7. Materials 11

8. Procedure 12

9. Observation

a. Table 14

b. Graph 15

10. Conclusion 16

11. Applications 16

12. Precautions 16

13. Bibliography 17

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1) Introduction

What is Friction?

Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and
material elements sliding against each other.

Types of Friction

Dry Friction: A force that opposes the relative lateral motion of two solid
surfaces in contact. Dry friction is subdivided into static
friction ("stiction") between non-moving surfaces, and
kinetic friction between moving surfaces. With the
exception of atomic or molecular friction, dry friction
generally arises from the interaction of surface features,
known as asperities.

Fluid Friction: The friction between layers of a viscous fluid that are
moving relative to each other.

Lubricated Friction: A case of fluid friction where a lubricant fluid separates two
solid surfaces.

Skin Friction: A component of drag, the force resisting the motion of a

fluid across the surface of a body.

Internal Friction: The force resisting motion between the elements making up
a solid material while it undergoes deformation.

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 Consequences of Friction

When surfaces in contact move relative to each other, the friction between the two
surfaces converts kinetic energy into thermal energy (that is, it converts work to
heat). This property can have dramatic consequences, as illustrated by the use of
friction created by rubbing pieces of wood together to start a fire. Kinetic energy is
converted to thermal energy whenever motion with friction occurs, for example
when a viscous fluid is stirred. Another important consequence of many types of
friction can be wear, which may lead to performance degradation or damage to
components. Friction is a component of the science of tribology.

Friction is desirable and important in supplying traction to facilitate motion on land.

Most land vehicles rely on friction for acceleration, deceleration and changing
direction. Sudden reductions in traction can cause loss of control and accidents.

Friction is not itself a fundamental force. Dry friction arises from a combination of
inter-surface adhesion, surface roughness, surface deformation, and surface
contamination. The complexity of these interactions makes the calculation of friction
from first principles impractical and necessitates the use of empirical methods for
analysis and the development of theory.

Advantages of Friction Disadvantages of Friction

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2) Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of Frictional Forces

We can only understand the importance of frictional force if it goes away. So, let’s
explore a world without frictional force. A world without frictional force is much
worse than this. Let alone walking, you wouldn’t be able to use your car or bike
since the wheel that helps you move around do so by using frictional force. The
friction between the road and the wheel causes the movement of the vehicle and
without frictional forces, you’d just stay in one place and spin the wheels. In the
classroom the situation would be even worse. You wouldn’t be able to lift your books
out of your bag because they’d keep slipping through your fingers. Pen and pencil
rely on the frictional force acting between the tip of the pen or pencil and the page
to write. That’s not the worst part, the teacher’s blackboard and chalk wouldn’t work
either. The teacher would have to teach the entire syllabus orally! A world without
this force is a world without sports too! You can spin/swing a cricket ball due to the
frictional force between your fingers and the ball. Without friction, sports would be
a dream. Wow, a world without friction seems like a nightmare, but friction is
exactly the hero of the story.

In summary,

 Makes many types of motion possible (ground reaction forces).

 Can be used to control the motion of bodies (brakes in vehicles).
 Prevents slipping and sliding, so ensures pure rolling.

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 Disadvantages of Frictional Forces

Friction although is necessary, can be excessive at times. Friction is a non-

conservative force - work done against friction is path dependent. In the presence of
friction, some energy is always lost in the form of heat. Thus, mechanical energy is
not conserved. Most machines require repair and maintenance because of the
frictional force. The friction between parts over time is responsible for a majority of
the wear and tear in a machine. Frictional force also causes most of the injuries.
When you fall down, the part of your body in contact with the ground, scrapes the
surface as you fall. It is also responsible for our cars and vehicles slowing down.
When you are moving, you experience frictional forces due to multiple sources. The
friction between you and the ground, the frictional force between you and the air you
are moving through. Thus, when we are moving, we waste a lot of energy
overcoming the frictional force opposing our motion.

In summary,

 Friction resists motion, which leads to energy loss.

 Produces heat as a result, resulting in loss of energy.
 Causes wear and tear, so moving parts and machinery must be replaced
regularly.

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3) Objective

To determine the effect of friction of different surfaces on the distance travelled by

a vehicle powered by a balloon. The purpose is to find out which surfaces and
conditions create the least friction and make the balloon car move the farthest.

4) Research

To create less friction, you need to cover moving objects with a slippery liquid
called lubricant, such as oil, and water. You can use devices such as wheels to
create less friction. You can also create less friction by skiing down on the snow
and the sand. Snow and sand are both slippery enough to ski down because they
are made of small grains that slide past each other.

In conclusion, I think the friction is the most important thing because you need
friction for everything such as walking. Even it causes a problem, it helps you with
a lot of things.

Fish and Gun bodies streamlined

Lubricant to reduce friction

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5) Hypothesis

I think the balloon car with straws that moves on the straw runway will create the
least friction and move the farthest.

6) Theory

The balloon powered vehicle moves with the help of the thrust provided by the
exertion of air by the balloon. Friction depends on the irregularities of the surfaces
in contact, so the smoothest surfaces with the least irregularities will provide the
least friction. Hence, more energy from the thrust of the balloon will be translated
into kinetic energy of the cardboard car.

7) Materials

• Lightweight cardboard box (like a shoebox)

• Balloon
• Scissors or a box cutter
• Box of plastic drinking straws and bottle caps
• Tape measure or ruler
• Glue or clear scotch tape
• Notebook
• Pencil or pen

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8) Procedure

1. Cut a small hole in one end of the cardboard box.

2. Insert the balloon through the hole so that the head of the balloon is inside the box
and the opening is outside.

3. Blow up the balloon and twist the end closed, pinching it between your fingertips.

4. While still pinching the balloon closed, set the balloon car on a flat countertop,
table, or floor and mark the starting point.

5. Let go of the balloon and measure the distance the box travelled.

6. Repeat inflating the balloon to the same size, let it go, and measuring the distance
travelled on difference surfaces. Good surfaces to test are carpets or rugs, concrete
(like the sidewalk), and on dirt or grass.

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7. Go back to the first flat surface tested, and lay out a row of parallel straws about
3 feet long.

8. Inflate the balloon, mark the starting point, and set the balloon car on top of the
straw runway.

9. Release the balloon. Measure and record the distance travelled.

10. Repeat Step 8 on the different surfaces you tried in Step 6.

11. Glue or tape two straws along the length of the bottom of the box like a sleigh.

12. Inflate the balloon, mark the starting point, and release the balloon car across the
surfaces that were tested before.

13. Inflate the balloon, mark the starting point, and release the balloon car across the
straw runway.

14. Analyse your results from the experiment.

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9) Observation

Table

Calculation
Surface Distance travelled (m)
(xf – xi)

- 5 – 0 = 05 5

Floor 1 Straw Runway 16 – 6 = 10 10

Straw only 21 – 20 = 01 1

- 7 – 0 = 07 7

Floor 2 Straw Runway 27 – 10 = 17 17

Straw only 24 – 20 = 04 4

- 6 – 0 = 06 6

Straw Runway 27 – 10 = 17 17
Floor 3
Straw only 12 – 10 = 02 2

Both of them 28 – 15 = 13 13

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Graph

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10) Conclusion

In conclusion, the hypothesis was practically right. The balloon car with two
straws on the straw runway travelled more than the balloon car on the regular floor.
The balloon car with the straws travelled more than on just the floor, but less than
the straw runway. This shows that the straw runway reduces friction, hence
reducing the loss of energy. I also found that the straws on the balloon car slowed
down the balloon car.

11) Applications

The conclusion of the experiment suggests that we could use different materials to
minimize energy loss due to friction in various places such as roads, tyres, engines
and anywhere where moving parts are involved. This could be achieved by using
different materials for making roads and tyres. However, it must be noted that
friction is necessary in certain situations, like slowing down and turning the
vehicle, so a surface with a very small coefficient of friction would also not be
practically safe.

12) Precautions

1. Make sure you have adult supervision while cutting the cardboard boxes.
2. Ensure that you fill the balloon in equal amounts each time.
3. Do not tie of the balloon; ensure that you hold it safely with your fingertips to
avoid air loss.
4. Use the same point of the cardboard car for measuring the start and end points.

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13) Bibliography

<http://www.askanexpert.com/> Design, Nonstop. Ask an Expert, ©2014 Jurock

Publishing
http://www.ask.com/question/how-does-a-pulley-make-work-easier> Ask.com, ©
2014 Ask.com
https://prezi.com/19ljmqta8jdf/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-friction-2/
http://www.ehow.com/about_6367453_do-pulleys-make-work-
easier_.html>johnmcgee, eHow Contributor. eHow, 1999-2014 Demand Media,
Inc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv7_4ub76xY&list=UUT22dav7hzRevfME_l8
BawQ
https://byjus.com/physics/friction-a-necessary-evil/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction
https://www.1000sciencefairprojects.com/Physics/friction-on-different-
surfaces.php
https://prezi.com/19ljmqta8jdf/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-friction/

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