Download Features of friction force

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Features of friction force
∗
Sunil Kumar Singh
This work is produced by OpenStax-CNX and licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0
†
Abstract
Friction force does not exist on its own.
Friction force diers to other forces in many respects. Importantly, friction adjusts to the way external
force is applied on the body. This characteristic provides opportunity to manage this force that minimizes
our eort to produce acceleration in bodies. At the same time, friction prohibits some geometric restriction
on the way we manage external force to produce acceleration. For example, we can not push an object unless
external force is applied outside a region called "cone of friction".
Besides, there are certain misplaced notion about friction that it is a negative force, which can not
produce acceleration or which can not do positive work. It is generally believed that friction only moderates
the acceleration and work of other external forces negatively. As a matter of fact, we shall nd that it is
actually the friction, which is ultimately driving our car on the road. We shall, however, save for the details
on this aspect till we take up the study of rolling motion. We shall, however, make the beginning in this
module to answer this question at a basic level.
1 Can friction cause motion?
To investigate this question, let us consider the combined motion of two blocks system, which is being pulled
with an external force such that two blocks move together as shown in the gure. Let us also consider that
the block system lies on a smooth horizontal surface, enabling us to neglect friction between block A and
the underlying horizontal surface.
∗ Version
1.6: Dec 14, 2008 10:17 am -0600
† http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
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Two blocks on a smooth surface
Figure 1:
The blocks slide together on a smooth horizontal plane.
The external forces on the two blocks are shown in the force diagrams in the gure below as seen from
the ground reference. The upper block B is moving along with lower block A due to the friction applied
by it.
Free body diagram
Figure 2:
Upper block is accelerated by friction.
The friction forces at the interface, which act on two bodies, are action and reaction pair and are equal
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in magnitude and opposite in direction, in accordance with Newton's third law of motion . We note that
friction on block B due to A is in the same direction as that of external force F. The only external force
on block B, as seen from the ground, is the friction force,
fs
.
The accelerations of the composite block system and individual blocks are same as considered in the
beginning. From three corresponding force diagrams, including the one corresponding to composite block
system, we have three expressions for the common acceleration :
F
mA + mB
F − fs
mA
fs
mB
a =
a =
a =
From the last equation, it is clear that static friction, as a matter of fact, caused the motion of block B
with respect to ground by producing acceleration in the body. Here, measurement of motion (acceleration)
is in a frame dierent to one in which the surface in contact lies. The block is accelerated with respect to
ground not with respect to the reference of block A, which applies friction force.
Thus, we see that friction is capable to produce acceleration in a body. It is expected also. This is the
very nature of a force. Since friction is a force, it is capable to produce acceleration and do positive work.
There is, however, a catch. Friction exists only due to other external forces. It does not exist, if there is no
external force on the body. But as far as the question "can friction cause motion?. Answer is yes.
2 Direction of friction
Direction of friction is opposite to the component of net external force parallel to the contact surface. It is
the criteria to decide the direction of friction. There are, however, situations in which external force may not
be obvious. In the illustration of the above section, there is no external force on the upper block "B". What
would be the direction of friction on block "B"? As a matter of fact, it is the only force (we do not consider
vertical normal force as it perpendicular to motion) on block acting parallel to contact surface. Clearly, we
can not apply the criteria for determining direction in this case.
We actually analyze the forces on the underneath block "A". The net external force parallel to interface
is acting towards right.
It, then, follows that the friction on "A" is towards left.
2
Taking cue from this
revelation and using Newton's third law of motion , we decide that the direction of friction on block "B"
should be towards right as shown in the gure below.
1 "Newton's third law of motion" <http://cnx.org/content/m14043/latest/>
2 "Newton's third law of motion" <http://cnx.org/content/m14043/latest/>
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Free body diagram
Figure 3:
Upper block is accelerated by friction.
Alternatively, we can consider relative motion between bodies in contact. In the illustration, we see that
block A has relative velocity (or tendency to have one) towards right with respect to block B. It means
that the block B has relative velocity (or tendency to have one) towards left with respect to block A.
Hence, friction force on block B is towards right i.e. opposite to relative velocity of B with respect to
block A.
We can formulate a directional rule about the direction of friction as :
The direction of friction on a body is opposite to the relative velocity of the body (or the tendency to
have one) with respect to the body, which is applying friction on it.
3 Contact forces revisited
There are two types of contact forces that we encounter when two bodies interact. The contact forces are
normal and friction forces. The normal force is a reaction of a body against any attempt (force) to deform
it. The ability of a body to resist deformation also has electromagnetic origin operating at the surface as in
the case of friction.
The two contact forces, therefore, can be considered to be manifestation of same inter atomic forces
that apply at the contact interface. The resultant electromagnetic force acts in a direction inclined to the
surface. Its component perpendicular to surface is the normal force and component parallel to the surface
is friction.
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Contact force
Figure 4:
Forces on the block
The resultant or net electromagnetic contact force is the vector sum of the two components and is given
by :
FC =
q
FN 2 + FF 2
Where :
FC : Resultant contact force
FN : Normal force, also represented simply as "N"
FF : Friction force, which can be fs (static friction) , Fs (maximum static friction) or Fk (kinetic friction)
For the maximum static friction ( Fs ) and a given normal force (N), the magnitude of resultant contact
force is :
FC =
⇒ FC
⇒ FC
q
q
FN 2 + FF 2
=
p
=
( N 2 + µs 2 N 2 )
p
= N ( 1 + µs 2 )
N 2 + Fs 2
This expression represents the maximum contact force between a pair of surfaces.
3.1 Angle of friction
The angle of friction for two surfaces in contact is dened as the angle that the maximum contact force
makes with the direction of normal force as shown in the gure. From the gure,
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Contact force
Figure 5:
Forces on the block
tanα =
Fs
N
= µs
The angle of friction, therefore, is :
⇒ α = tan − 1
Fs
N
= tan − 1 ( µs )
We must understand here that angle of friction is a function of the coecient of friction between two
surfaces. This means that it depends on the nature of surfaces and is unique for the two surfaces in contact.
Specially, we should note that it does not depend on maximum static force or normal force. If we increase
N (say by putting more weight on the block), then maximum static friction also increases as
and the ratio Fs = µs N
Fs
N remains constant.
4 Minimum external force to initiate motion
External force is required to initiate motion against friction force. For every situation, there is a particular
direction in which the requirement of external force to initiate motion is a minimum. Here we consider the
case of a block placed on a horizontal surface, which is pulled up by an external force, F, as shown in the
gure.
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Force on a block
Figure 6:
Forces on the block tries to move the block.
At rst consideration, we may reason that force would be always least when it is applied exactly opposite
to the friction. The force required in such case is given by :
F || = µs N = µs mg
This consideration, however, is not correct.
The external force, besides overcoming maximum static
friction, also aects normal force. The component of force in the vertical direction decreases normal force.
Since friction is proportional to normal force, an unique orientation will require minimum magnitude of
external force.
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Force on a block
Figure 7:
Forces diagram
When angle θ increases (cosθ decreases), the force overcoming maximum static friction decreases :
F || = Fx = F cosθ
On the other hand, normal force, N, decreases with increasing angle (increasing sinθ ),
N = mg − F sinθ
Consequently, the maximum static friction decreases as :
Fs = µs N = µs ( mg − F sinθ )
Thus, there is a particular value of the angle θ for which magnitude of external force is minimum. We
shall work out the particular orientation for this arrangement in the example given here.
Example 1
Problem :
An external force, "F", is applied on a block at an angle "θ " as shown in the gure.
In order to initiate motion, what should be the angle at which magnitude of external force, F, is
minimum? Also nd the magnitude of minimum force.
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Force on a block
Figure 8
Solution :
We should obtain an expression of external force as a function of θ and then
evaluate the function for obtaining the condition for the minimum value. We draw the free body
diagram superimposed on the body diagram for the condition of maximum static friction as shown
in the gure.
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Force on a block
Figure 9:
Forces diagram
P
Fx = F cosθ − µs N = 0
⇒ F cosθ = µs N
and
P
Fy = N + F sinθ − mg = 0
⇒ N = mg − F sinθ
Combining two equations, we have :
⇒ F =
But, we know that
µs
= tan
α,
µs mg
cosθ + µs sinθ
where α is the angle of friction.
⇒ F =
⇒ F =
⇒ F =
mgtanα
cosθ + tanαsinθ
mgtanαcosα
cosθcosα + sinαsinθ
mgsinα
cos ( θ − α )
The denominator is maximum when cos (θ α)
= 1.
⇒ θ − α = 0
⇒ θ = α
Corresponding minimum force is :
⇒ Fmin = mgsinα
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p
p
p
2
2
2
p tanα = µs ; cosα = 1/secα = 1/ (1 + tan α) = 1/ (1 + µs ); Hence, sinα = (1 − cos α) =
µs / (1 + µ2s ). Putting this value in the equation,
Since
⇒ Fmin =
√
µs mg
( 1 + µs 2 )
5 Cone of friction
Generally a body is moved either by pulling or pushing corresponding to the very nature of force, which
is dened as a pull or push. We nd that existence of friction against relative motion between two bodies
puts certain restriction to the ability of external force to move the body.
Force on a block
Figure 10:
Applied force tries to push the body.
This restriction is placed with respect to application of force to move a body over another surface. To
illustrate the restriction, we consider a block lying on a rough horizontal surface. An external force, F, is
applied on the body to initiate the motion. The gure here shows the free body diagram superimposed on
the body diagram.
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Force on a block
Figure 11:
Force diagram
The x-direction component of the external force parallel to the contact surface tends to move the body.
On the other hand, the y-direction component of the external force in the downward direction increases the
normal force, which increases the maximum static friction force. Thus, we see that one of the components of
applied force tries to move the body, whereas the other component tries to restrict body to initiate motion.
Friction is equal to maximum static friction to initiate motion,
Fs = µs N
We analyze for zero net force in both component directions to investigate the nature of external force,
"F".
P
Fx = F sinθ − µs N = 0
⇒ F sinθ = µs N
and
P
Fy = F cosθ + mg − N = 0
⇒ N = F cosθ + mg
Combining two equations, we have :
⇒ F sinθ = µs ( F cosθ + mg )
⇒ F ( sinθ − µs cosθ ) = µs mg
⇒ F =
µs mg
sinθ − µs cosθ
The magnitude of external force is a positive quantity. It is, therefore, required that denominator of the
ratio is a positive quantity for the body to move.
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⇒ sinθ − µs cosθ ≥ 0
⇒ tanθ ≥ µs
⇒ θ ≥ tan − 1 ( µs )
⇒ θ ≥ α
The body can be pushed for this condition (θ
(angle of friction)
≥ α).
On the other hand, a force applied within the angle
of friction, however great it is, will not be able to push the body ahead. A cone drawn with half vertex angle
equal to the angle of friction constitutes a region in which an applied external force is unable to move the
body.
Cone of friction
Figure 12:
Force applied within the angle of friction, however great it is, will not be able to push the
body ahead.
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