Lab 5: Friction (static and kinetic)
Lab 5: Friction (static and kinetic)
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Background & Lab Introduction
Background & Lab Introduction
For this lab, we were tasked to design an experiment showing static and kinetic friction. For kinetic friction we had to use different weights as well. Static friction is the friction that happens when someone moves a stationary object. Kinetic friction is the friction between a surface and an object moving on it.
For this lab, we were tasked to design an experiment showing static and kinetic friction. For kinetic friction we had to use different weights as well. Static friction is the friction that happens when someone moves a stationary object. Kinetic friction is the friction between a surface and an object moving on it.
Methods
Methods
For the experiment, we used a wood block and a metal surface. To measure the force of friction, we used a force gauge. To measure static friction, we noted the gauge number when the object started to move when pulled, 0.58N. To measure kinetic friction, we noted the gauge number when the object was in constant motion. We tested kinetic friction with 5 different weights. The first trial was just the block, 228.5g. For trial 2-5, we added an extra 100g per new trial. To calculate the static and kinetic coefficients, I put formulas into excel. The formula for static friction is Fₛ = μₛ N. (Force of static friction = static friction coefficient x normal force). The formula for kinetic friction is Fk = μkN. (Force of kinetic friction = kinetic friction coefficient x normal force). Normal force can also be calculated through mass x gravity, which is what I used instead.
For the experiment, we used a wood block and a metal surface. To measure the force of friction, we used a force gauge. To measure static friction, we noted the gauge number when the object started to move when pulled, 0.58N. To measure kinetic friction, we noted the gauge number when the object was in constant motion. We tested kinetic friction with 5 different weights. The first trial was just the block, 228.5g. For trial 2-5, we added an extra 100g per new trial. To calculate the static and kinetic coefficients, I put formulas into excel. The formula for static friction is Fₛ = μₛ N. (Force of static friction = static friction coefficient x normal force). The formula for kinetic friction is Fk = μkN. (Force of kinetic friction = kinetic friction coefficient x normal force). Normal force can also be calculated through mass x gravity, which is what I used instead.
Possible Errors: Misreading of the force gauge and calculation errors.
Possible Errors: Misreading of the force gauge and calculation errors.
Results
Results
The static friction coefficient is 0.000259. The kinetic friction coefficients from trial 1-5 are 0.000233, 0.000233, 0.000298, 0.00029, and 0.000284. Comparatively, these results make sense. Static friction tends to have a higher coefficient than kinetic friction. Although the static coefficient is lower than some of the kinetic frictions, the static coefficient is higher than the kinetic friction coefficient when they carry the same weight. This is what you would expect to see in the real world.
The static friction coefficient is 0.000259. The kinetic friction coefficients from trial 1-5 are 0.000233, 0.000233, 0.000298, 0.00029, and 0.000284. Comparatively, these results make sense. Static friction tends to have a higher coefficient than kinetic friction. Although the static coefficient is lower than some of the kinetic frictions, the static coefficient is higher than the kinetic friction coefficient when they carry the same weight. This is what you would expect to see in the real world.
This image shows us measuring our kinetic friction force with extra weight.
This image shows us measuring our kinetic friction force with extra weight.
This image shows us measuring our static friction. We used the red and black force gauge on the right.
This image shows us measuring our static friction. We used the red and black force gauge on the right.
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