FRICTION

1. Define the terms:

a) Static Friction:
Static Friction is the self adjusting force of friction that exists
between the stationary object and the surface on which it has been
kept with no relative motion.
It can increase upto a certain limit.
The maximum value of the force of static friction comes into play
when the body is just sliding over the horizontal surface.
It opposes the applied force.

b) Sliding Friction:
Sliding friction is the friction that acts between an object and a
surface, when the object is sliding over that surface.
It is little less than the force of static friction.

c) Rolling Friction:
Rolling friction is the force of friction resisting the motion when a
body rolls on a surface of another body.
It is much less than the sliding friction.

d) Fluid Friction:
The frictional force exerted by fluids (collective term for gases and
liquids) against a moving object is called fluid friction.
It depends upon
• the nature of the fluid.
• shape of the moving object (the area of contact).
• Speed of the moving object (with respect to the fluid).

2. The likely causes of friction:

* It is caused by roughness of the two surfaces in contact.
* Irregularities on the two surfaces lock into one another
(interlocking) causing friction.
3. A box is resting on the floor. To move it, a force is applied as shown:

a) Give the value of the force of limiting friction.

- Applied force is the value of the force of limiting friction.
- limiting friction is 3F as friction is just beaten at the moment
force is 3F

b) Why does the box stay at rest in the cases corresponding to fig(a)
and fig(b)?
- The amount of applied force in case of A and B is less than the
mass of the box.
- Box stays at rest as the applied for ce is nit being able to beat the
frictional force between the block and the surface it is restin
upon meaning that the applied force in both the cases is less
than the static friction between the block and the surface.

c) Mark the direction of the frictional force that comes into play, in
each case.
- The kind of frictional force that comes into play in each is the
static friction.
Direction of friction in all the cased will be to the opposite of
applied force in (a) and (b) static friction is present and in (c)
limiting friction which instantly changes to kinetic friction is
present.
 4. The kind of frictional friction, that comes into play, when a book,
kept on a collection of cylindrical pencils, is moved by pushing it.
- Rolling Friction

5. Some objects are given special shapes when they are moving
through fluids?
Write the name given to these special shapes.
Ans: Objects are given special shapes when they are moving through Fluids
because:
* They experience fluid friction which acts opposite to their direction
of movement
*This frictional force or opposing force is known as a drag force.
*Due to these special shapes of objects, the opposing force can be
minimized and they can move easily.
*They can lose a considerable part of their useful energy to
overcome the fluid friction.
* To minimize this energy loss, the bodies/objects are given special
shapes.
*The name given to these special shapes is called a streamlined
shape.

6. FORCE OF FRICTION:
Frictional force is the opposing force that is created between two
surfaces that try to move in the same direction or that try to move in
opposite directions.
The main purpose of a frictional force is to create resistance to the
motion of one surface over the other surface.
Factors affecting force of friction:
*The frictional force depends on the body surface textures i.e., rough
surface, smooth surface, liquids etc.
*The weight of the object or the amount of force on the surface by
the object.
 Example:
When a body moves over a horizontal surface, it presses down against
the surface by a force equal to its weight. The force of friction
increases with an increase in the weight of the body.

7. A ball is allowed to roll down an incline wooden plane from a given

height. At the foot of the incline plane, it moves on a horizontal
surface differently covered one by one as shown in the following
figure.
In which case is the ball likely to move the longest distance?
Give reason for your answer.

Ans: In case of ‘C’, the ball is rolling down far from the given height ‘h’
over the plane glass sheet.
Here the ball will move to the longest distance as the surface of the
ball and the glass sheet both are smooth.
Hence, friction does not exist and the ball will show rolling friction.
*The woollen cloth and newspaper surfaces are not smooth as
compared to the glass sheet.
8. Explain why sliding friction is less than static friction.

Sliding friction is less than static friction because

• The frictional force between two surfaces depends on the
interlocking between the irregularities on the surfaces.
• In case of sliding friction, the interlocking decreases as the
contact points does not get enough time to interlock properly
thus reducing the frictional force.

9. Give reason:
A) We tend to slip when we step on the banana peel.
• The banana peel provides a thin layer in between our feet and
the floor.
• The peel makes the surface smooth, so the friction between our
feet and ground decreases.
• Our feet no longer gets the grip with the floor firmly and push
backwards causing us to fall.
• Fluid friction is the force of friction exerted by fluids on objects
moving through them.

b) It is easier to push a lighter box than a similar heavy box on the

same floor.
Ans: *We can push a lighter box easily than a heavy box on the same
floor because of static friction.
* The heavier the object, the more friction is applied, thus making
it difficult to push a heavier box.
*The static friction balances the force which we exert on the heavy
box and the box remains at rest.
 c) The force needed to start a cart is greater than the force needed
to it keep it moving with a uniform speed.
* Relative motion between two surfaces starts only when we
push an object.
* The contact points of object get interlocked to contact points of
floor. Hence they require more force to overcome that frictional
force than to the body which is already in motion.

This is just similar that static friction is greater than sliding

friction. This is why more force is needed to move a body which
is in rest than to a body in motion.

d) Sportsmen use shoes fitted with spikes.

Ans: Sports men use shoes fitted with spikes because
• These shoes give them a better grip while running.
• The force of friction between the shoes and the ground increases
with the help of spikes which prevent them from slipping and

skidding.

e) Ball bearings are used in machines.

Ans: Ball bearings are used in machines which have lot of movement
in their working process.
They reduce the friction during motion, so that efficiency of the
machine is increased, and they move in a smooth manner.

f) Machine parts are frequently oiled and greased.

Ans: Machine parts are frequently oiled or greased
• To reduce friction and help in the smooth running of the machine
and increases its efficiency.
• Continuous usage of any machine results in friction in their parts
which ultimately leads to wear and tear of the machine arts.
It reduces the wastage of energy.
g) Tyres of the vehicles need to be changed regularly.
Ans: Tyres of vehicles need to be changed regularly
• The treads and grooves improve the grip on the roads.
• They increase the friction between the road and the wheels.
• With passing time they get worn off and due to friction they
become more smoother.
• Due to wear and tear in the tyre by regular use, the friction
between the tyre and road reduces and the tyre becomes more
slippery.
• It can be dangerous as accidents might happen when the tyre
slips. In order to avoid this, we need to change the tyres regularly.

h) Sports cars, aeroplanes and boats are designed to have a

streamlined shape.
Ans: Sports car, aeroplanes and boats are designed to have a
streamlined shape
• To reduce the friction(air resistance).
• Helps to acquire faster speed as every air particle passes at a
particular point with the same speed and in the same direction.
i) Metal chains are wrapped on tyres when they run on icy roads.
Ans: Metal trains are wrapped on tyres when they run on icy roads
• Metal chain increases the friction.
• Icy roads have smooth surface and have very little friction.
• By doing so the frictional force will increase as there is less frictional force
on icy roads. And the vehicles can hold the road firmly and it also avoid
skidding.

j) Rollers are used for transporting luggage.

The friction acting when an object rolls over another object is
called rolling friction.
It is easier to pull a luggage fitted with rollers than to drag it.
Rolling decreases the friction and makes movement of things
easier.
 It applies less force and increases the energy efficiency.
This is why luggages are fitted with rollers.

k) We sprinkle talcum powder on carrom board.

We generally sprinkle a little talcum powder on a carrom board
because
* The powder fills the gap present on carrom board
* It reduces the friction of carrom board, striker and the coins.
*This helps the striker to slide on the carrom board smoothly.

l)Compressed and purified air can also act as a lubricant.

* Compressed air has high pressure in it.
* This pressure is enough to push the adjacent surfaces away from
each other.
* This thereby doesn't allow the two surfaces to come closer, and
thus doesn't allow friction between two surfaces to take place.
* This pressure also acts as a shock absorber.
* It prevents the dust and the dirt from collecting on the moving
parts.
* Many instruments are very delicate for the liquid lubricant to act.
* So, compressed air cushion acts as the shock absorber as well as
lubricant there.
* Compressed air can also be generated by the machine itself.

m) A gymnast often apply some coarse substance on their hands.

• The chalk powder that they apply is different from the other chalk
we use in our daily life.(calcium carbonate)
• It increases the friction in their hands.
• The chalk powder that they use absorbs the sweat.
• It gives a stronger grip, making it not slippery.

10. USES OF WHEELS:

• For transportation
• Reduces friction associated with rolling
• Saves labour
11. Friction can help the cause of motion in certain situations.
Ans: Friction is non conservative force, which is always oppose the
direction of particle, or body etc.
Friction is generally 2 types
1. kinetic friction 2. Static friction
Kinetic friction occurs when a body is in motion .
Static friction occurs when body is at rest.
Static friction is always larger than the kinetic friction.
Static friction is adjustable i.e. it did not fix value but kinetic
friction has fix value.
For example:
a) We can walk on the road and floor due to friction.
b)The vehicles run on the road due to friction between their
tyres and road.
c) We slip and the vehicles skid in absence of friction.
d) The athletes run with the help of spike shoes.
e) While pedaling a bicycle, the force exerted by the rear wheel
on ground makes the force of friction act on it in the forward
direction. Front wheel moving by itself experiences the force
of friction in backward direction. Even though we stop
pedaling the wheels move by themselves by the frictional
force
Thus, friction can cause the motion in these situations.

12. METHODS OF REDUCING FRICTION:

Friction can be minimized by

* using lubricants (A substance that is introduced between two
surfaces in contact, to reduce friction, is called a lubricant.) like
oil and grease.
* By using ball bearing between machine parts.
* Fluid friction can be minimized by giving suitable shapes to the
objects moving in the fluids.
* By Polishing to decrease the roughness of the surface
 13. The three factors on which the force of fluid friction or dragging
of an object in fluid depends upon
* Nature of the fluid
* Shape of the moving object (the area of contact).
* Speed of the moving object (with respect to the fluid).

14. Lubricant:
A lubricant is a substance used to introduced and to reduce friction
between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the
heat generated when the surfaces move. For example - motor oil,
grease etc.

TYPES OF LUBRICANTS:

Lubricants

Liquid Lubricants
High boiling point, Low freezing Semi- liquid lubricants
points, high resistance, non-corrosive

Eg: oil, petroleum low viscosity, contain

base oil, thickeners
Eg: grease,
Vaseline, jellies
solid lubricants
Graphite powder, wax

WORKING OF LUBRICANTS:

Lubricant forms an oil film on the surface of metals.

Converts solid friction into liquid friction to reduce friction.
Reduces friction and prevents heating.
Abrasion on the friction surface.
15. FRICTION IS AN EVIL OR NUISANCE:
* There are instances in daily life where friction is a necessity.
For example, without friction,
we cannot hold objects in our hands
we cannot walk and
We cannot light a match stick.
* Sometimes friction is not desirable,
For example
*Friction between machinery parts, which causes wear and tear.
*It opposes any relative motion between two objects in
contact; some effort applied to the moving object is wasted in
overcoming friction.
*A significant amount of energy, supplied to a machine, gets
wasted in the form of heat energy while overcoming the force of
friction.
* As friction is advantageous to us it is considered as a friend but
due to its disadvantages it is a foe.
* Depending on the circumstance, friction can be a help or a
hindrance. Thus, it is a necessary evil.

16. FRICTION IS NECESSITY:

Friction plays a very vital role in our daily life.
Many of our daily activities depend on the presence of frictional
force.
Advantages of Friction
• Friction between pen and paper enables us to write on the
paper.
• Friction between our feet and the ground allows our
movements like standing, walking and running.
• Friction between the surface of the road and tyres of our
vehicles allow the vehicles to move without slipping.
• It enables us to hold things safely in our hands.
• It enables us to hold things along a slope.
• It enables us to fix a screw or a nail on the wall/wood, or
tie a knot or light a matchstick.