Friction
5.1 Basic properties of frictional forces
Fig. 5.1
pulling
friction 5
force
normal
contact
force
weight
Fig. 5.2A dustbin of mass 20 kg is placed on a path which is at an angle of 13° to the horizontal.
The limiting friction between the bin and the path is 50 N.
a Will the bin slide down the path?
b_ A force parallel to the slope is applied to the bin so that it is on the point of moving up
the path. How large is this force?If, with the data in Example 5.1.1, a force of 100 N is applied to the dustbin up the path,
calculate the acceleration with which the bin will move.
The forces in Fig. 5.5 are the same as in Fig. 5.4, except that P is now 100. As the bin
is moving, friction has its limiting value of 50 N. Let the acceleration be a ms.
\
100N
SON
Fig. 5.5
Blan tha nethY 1A KA NM ana 77? — Oe5.2 Limiting friction
| Fim = HR, where p is a constant.
A person tries to pull a small cupboard across the floor. The mass of the cupboard is 76 kg
and the coefficient of friction is 0.5. Describe what happens if the cupboard is pulled with a
horizontal force of
a 200N,
b 400N.
The forces on the cupboard are shown in Fig. 5.7. The normal contact force, R N, is
equal to the weight of the cupboard, which is 760 N.
pull
—>
friction
Fig. 5.7‘A boy kicks a stone of mass 100 grams across the playground. The coefficient of friction
between the stone and the playground is 0.25. If the stone comes to rest 31 m away, find the
speed with which the boy kicked it.
direction
of motion,
FN
RN
IN
Fig. 5.85.4 Friction and motion
Exercise 5A
1 The diagram shows horizontal forces of magnitudes P N and QN acting in opposite
directions on a block of mass 5 kg, which is at rest on a horizontal surface. State, in terms of
P and Q, the magnitude and direction of the frictional force acting on the block when
PN rq ON
a P>Q
b Q>P.
2. The diagram shows horizontal forces of magnitudes P N and 100 N acting in opposite
directions on a block of weight 50 N, which is at rest on a horizontal surface. Given that the
coefficient of friction between the block and the surface is 0.4, find the range of possible
values of P.
PN 100N
ee | >
3 The diagram shows a force of magnitude 8 N acting downwards at 30° to the horizontal on a
block of mass 3 kg, which is at rest on a horizontal surface. Calculate the frictional force on
the block.
3N
30°
4 Anairline passenger pushes a 15 kg suitcase along the floor with his foot. A force of 60 N is
needed to move the suitcase. Find the coefficient of friction. What force would be needed togive the suitcase an acceleration of 0.2 m s??
A block of mass 6 kg is accelerating at 1.25 m s~, on a horizontal surface, under the action
of a horizontal force of magnitude 22.5 N. Calculate the coefficient of friction between the
block and the surface.
A horizontal cable from a winch is attached to a small boat of mass 800 kg which rests on
horizontal ground. The coefficient of friction is 4. The tension in the cable is increased in
steps of 100 N. What is the frictional force when the tension is
a 5900N,
b 6000N,
c¢ 6100 N?
Describe what happens in each of these cases.
The diagram shows a block of weight 50 N at rest on a plane inclined at an angle a? to the
horizontal, under the action of a force of magnitude P acting up the plane. Find, in terms of
P, the magnitude and direction of the frictional force acting on the block when
PN
a P>SOsina®,
b P 33.
When the force acts down the plane (see Fig. I!) the block slides downwards.: a
ii Show that yy < $.
(Cambridge International AS and A level Mathematics 9709/41 Paper 4 Q3 November 2014)
A block of mass 8 kg is at rest on a plane inclined at 20° to the horizontal. The block is
connected to a vertical wall at the top of the plane by a string. The string is taut and parallel
toa line of greatest slope of the plane (see diagram).
i Given that the tension in the string is 13 N, find the frictional and normal components of
the force exerted on the block by the plane.
The string is cut; the block remains at rest, but is on the point of slipping down the plane.
ii Find the coefficient of friction between the block and the plane.
(Cambridge International AS and A level Mathematics 9709/04 Paper 4 Q4 June 2009)
A particle of mass m kg moves up a line of greatest slope of a rough plane inclined at 21° to
the horizontal. The frictional and normal components of the contact force on the particle
have magnitudes F N and R N respectively. The particle passes through the point P with
speed 10 ms“, and 2 s later it reaches its highest point on the plane,
i Show that R = 9,336 m and F = 1.416 m, each correct to 4 significant figures.
ii Find the coefficient of friction between the particle and the plane.
After the particle reaches its highest point it starts to move down the plane,
iii Find the speed with which the particle returns to P.
(Cambridge International AS and A level Mathematics 9709/04 Paper 4 Q7 November 2006)
Particles P and Q are moving in a straight line on a rough horizontal plane. The frictional
forces are the only horizontal forces acting on the particles.
i Find the deceleration of each of the particles given that the coefficient of friction
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between P and the plane is 0.2, and between Q and the plane is 0.25.
‘Ata certain instant, P passes through the point A and Q passes through the point B. ‘The
distance AB is 5 m. The velocities of P and Q at A and Bare 8 ms“! and 3 ms",
respectively, both in the direction AB.
ii Find the speeds of P and Q immediately before they collide.
(Cambridge International AS and A level Mathematics 9709/41 Paper 4 Q4 November 2013)
A ring of mass 4 kg is threaded on a fixed rough vertical rod. A light string is attached to the
ring, and is pulled with a force of magnitude TN acting at an angle of 60° to the downward
vertical (see diagram). The ring is in equilibrium.
™
i The normal and frictional components of the contact force exerted on the ring by the rod
are R N and F N respectively. Find R and F in terms of T.
ii The coefficient of friction between the rod and the ring is 0.7. Find the value of T for
which the ring is about to slip.
(Cambridge International AS and A level Mathematics 9709/04 Paper 4 QS November 2007)
A particle P of mass 0.6 kg moves upwards along a line of greatest slope of a plane inclined
at 18° to the horizontal. The deceleration of P is 4 ms,
i Find the frictional and normal components of the force exerted on P by the plane. Hence
find the coefficient of friction between P and the plane, correct to 2 significant figures.
After P comes to instantaneous rest it starts to move down the plane with acceleration a ms
2
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