Adhesion and friction

Friction is simply the resistant to movement. Adhesion is the force necessary to prevent an object from
rolling against the slope.

A body (weight=W) is being pulled with a force P. The body will remain at stationary till the force P
increases to the limiting frictional (F). The coefficient of friction ( μ ¿ is defined as the ratio of limiting
frictional force (F) to the normal reaction of the body.

F
μ=
N
If λ = frictional angle,

F
tan λ=μ=
N

Point to note;

A body is stationary if F>P, and body starts moving if P>F

Drawing a diagram of applied force (P) against friction force (F), the frictional force will increase linearly
with the increase of applied force (OA). The friction force cannot increase after it reaches the value of
limiting friction. Now if the applied force (P) is increased, the body starts moving and even friction force
falls (AB). The body moves with dynamic frictional force along (BC).
COULOMB'S LAW OF FRICTION

Coulomb's law of friction encompasses that

1. The force of friction always acts in a direction opposite to the direction in which the body tends
to move.
2. The magnitude of friction force is equal to the applied force till it remains stationary.
3. The limiting friction bears a constant ratio to the reaction force between the two surfaces.
4. The friction force depends upon the roughness/smoothness between the surfaces.
5. The force of friction does not depend on the area of contact.
6. Dynamic friction has a lower value than that of the limiting friction.

Dynamic friction force is given as F = μk N where N is normal reaction force and µ is coefficient of
dynamic friction which is always less than static friction (μ). Dynamic friction is about 20% to 25% less
than static friction. However, laws of dynamic friction are the same as static friction.

When a wheel rolls on the ground the point of the wheel in contact with the ground has no relative
motion with respect to the ground. Theoretically, rolling friction is zero but rolling friction exists due to
deformation of the ground surface.

THE ANGLE OF REPOSE AND THE CONE OF FRICTION

If a block of weight W is put on an inclined plane and it is stationary, this means friction force (F) is
greater than sliding force (Wsinα ) acting along the plane due to weight the block (a). However, on
increasing the inclination angle to a critical angle, sliding force (Wsinα ) will become greater than friction
force and the body tends to slide (b). The steepest angle of inclination (α ) for which the block remains in
equilibrium is called the angle of repose. The block can repose (sleep) up to the repose angle. It can be
seen that repose angle (α ) = limiting angle of friction (λ).

If a body tends to move towards right, friction force will act towards left. The resultant (R) of friction
force with the normal will make an angle λ with the normal towards left (a). If now the body tries to
move towards left, the resultant will act towards right (b). Similarly, it will be in all directions and the
resultant will seem to be moving and generating a cone surface (c). The cone of friction is defined as the
surface generated by the direction of resultant when a body is moved in different directions.
EQUILIBRIUM: BLOCK, WEDGE AND LADDER

During equilibrium of a block below, the system of forces including friction may be treated as the
concurrent force system. Hence using the equilibrium equations for concurrent forces ( Σ P x =o,
Σ P y =¿0) and the laws of friction, the force system can be analyzed.

POWER TRANSMITTED

The power can be transmitted by means of a belt as friction exists between the pulley (wheel) and the
belt. Friction is also used in band brakes to stop the rotating wheel. The power transmitted by a belt-
pulley arrangement depends upon the angle of contact of the belt with the pulley. If the angle of contact
increases, more power can be transmitted. The tension in the belt is more on the side it is pulled as it
has to overcome friction force and this side of the belt is called tight side. The other side having less
tension is called slack side.

Let us develop a relation between tight side (T2) and slack side (T₁) with the angle of contact (θ ). Refer to
Figure below. Take a small length of the belt with contact dθ and tension at tight side (T + ∆ T) and slack
side tension T. The force of friction (F) acts towards the slack side and the normal reaction N acts radially
upwards. All forces are in equilibrium.