LabQuest

12
Static and Kinetic Friction
If you try to slide a heavy box resting on the floor, you may find it difficult to get the box moving.
Static friction is the force that is acting against the box. If you apply a light horizontal push that
does not move the box, the static friction force is also small and directly opposite to your push. If
you push harder, the friction force increases to match the magnitude of your push. There is a limit to
the magnitude of static friction, so eventually you may be able to apply a force larger than the
maximum static force, and the box will move. The maximum static friction force is sometimes
referred to as starting friction. We model static friction, Fstatic, with the inequality Fstatic  s N where
s is the coefficient of static friction and N the normal force exerted by a surface on the object. The
normal force is defined as the perpendicular component of the force exerted by the surface. In this
case, the normal force is equal to the weight of the object.

Once the box starts to slide, you must continue to exert a force to keep the object moving, or friction
will slow it to a stop. The friction acting on the box while it is moving is called kinetic friction. In
order to slide the box with a constant velocity, a force equivalent in magnitude to the force of
kinetic friction must be applied. Kinetic friction is sometimes referred to as sliding friction. Both
static and kinetic friction depend on the surfaces of the box and the floor, and on how hard the box
and floor are pressed together. We model kinetic friction with Fkinetic  = k N, where k is the
coefficient of kinetic friction.

In this experiment, you will use a Force Sensor to study static friction and kinetic friction on a
wooden block. A Motion Detector will also be used to analyze the kinetic friction acting on a
sliding block.

OBJECTIVES
 Use a Force Sensor to measure the force of static and kinetic friction.
 Determine the relationship between force of static friction and the weight of an object.
 Measure the coefficients of static and kinetic friction for a particular block and track.
 Use a Motion Detector to independently measure the coefficient of kinetic friction and
compare it to the previously measured value.
 Determine if the coefficient of kinetic friction depends on weight.

MATERIALS
LabQuest block of wood with hook
LabQuest App balance or scale
Vernier Force Sensor mass set
Motion Detector Logger Pro or graph paper (optional)
string

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LabQuest 12

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
1. In pushing a heavy box across the floor, is the force you need to apply to start the box moving
greater than, less than, or the same as the force needed to keep the box moving? On what are
you basing your choice?

2. How is the force of friction related to the weight of the box? Explain.

PROCEDURE
Part I Starting Friction
1. Measure the mass of the block and record it in the data table.

2. Set the range switch on the Force Sensor to 10 N. Connect the Force Sensor to LabQuest.
Choose New from the File menu. If you have an older sensor that does not auto-ID, manually
set up the sensor.

3. Next you will zero the Force Sensor.

a. Hold it so the working axis is horizontal.
c. With the Force Sensor axis held horizontally and no force applied, choose Zero from the
Sensors menu. When the process is complete, the readings for the sensors should be close to
zero.
4. Tie one end of a string to the hook on the Force Sensor and the other end to the hook on the
wooden block. Place a total of 1 kg mass on top of the block, fastened so the masses cannot
shift. Practice pulling the block and masses with the Force Sensor using a straight-line motion.
Slowly and gently pull horizontally with a small force. Very gradually, taking one full second,
increase the force until the block starts to slide, and then keep the block moving at a constant
speed for another second.

5. Sketch a graph of force vs. time for the force you felt on your hand. Label the portion of the
graph corresponding to the block at rest, the time when the block just started to move, and the
time when the block was moving at constant speed.

6. Hold the Force Sensor in position, ready to pull the block, but with no tension in the string.

7. Start data collection. Wait a moment, then pull the block as before, taking care to increase the
force gradually.

8. Inspect your graph. Start data collection and repeat the process as needed until you have a graph
that reflects the desired motion, including pulling the block at constant speed once it begins
moving. Print or sketch the graph for later reference.

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 Static and Kinetic Friction

Part II Peak Static Friction and Kinetic Friction

In this section, you will measure the peak static friction force and the kinetic friction force as a
function of the normal force on the block. In each run, you will pull the block as before, but by
changing the masses on the block, you will vary the normal force on the block.
M ass
W o o d e n b lo c k

P u ll

F o rc e S e n s o r
D u a l-R a n g e
Figure 1

9. Remove all masses from the block.

10. Using the same procedure as before with the LabQuest and for pulling the block, collect force
vs. time data.

11. To examine the data pairs on the displayed graph, tap any data point. As you tap each data point,
the force and time values are displayed to the right of the graph. The maximum value of the
force occurs when the block started to slide. Read this value of the peak static friction force and
record the number in your data table.

12. Next you need to determine the average friction force while the block was moving at constant
velocity.
a. Tap and drag your stylus across the approximately constant-force region to select the data
points.
b. Choose Statistics from the Analyze menu. The statistics for the selected region will be
displayed.
c. Record the mean force value in your data table.
13. Repeat Steps 10–12 for two more measurements and average the results to determine the
reliability of your measurements. Record the values in the data table.

14. Add masses totaling 500 g to the block. Repeat Steps 10–13, recording values in the data table.
Add another 500 g and repeat.
Part III Kinetic Friction Again
In this section, you will measure the coefficient of kinetic friction a second way and compare it
to the measurement in Part II. Using a Motion Detector, you can measure the acceleration of the
block as it slides to a stop. This acceleration can be determined from the velocity vs. time graph.
While sliding, the only force acting on the block in the horizontal direction is that of friction.
From the mass of the block and its acceleration, you can find the frictional force and finally, the
coefficient of kinetic friction.
W o o d e n b lo c k

P ush

Figure 2

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 LabQuest 12

15. Place the Motion Detector on the lab table about 2 m from a block of wood, as shown in
Figure 2. Use the same surface you used in Part II. Position the Motion Detector so that it will
detect the motion of the block as it slides toward the detector.

16. Tap Meter. Disconnect the Force Sensor. If your Motion Detector has a
switch, set it to Normal. Connect the Motion Detector to DIG 1 of
LabQuest. Choose New from the File menu. If you have an older sensor
that does not auto-ID, manually set up the sensor.

17. Practice sliding the block toward the Motion Detector by giving the block a very short push, so
that the block leaves your hand and slides to a stop. Minimize the rotation of the block. After it
leaves your hand, the block should slide about 1 m before it stops, and it must not come any
closer to the Motion Detector than 0.15 m for Motion Detectors with a switch or 0.4 m for those
without.

18. Collect data for the sliding block.

a. Start data collection.
b. After a moment, give the block a brief push so that it slides toward the Motion Detector.
19. Inspect your graph.
a. Examine the graph of velocity vs. time.
b. The velocity graph should have a portion with a linearly decreasing section corresponding to
the freely sliding motion of the block. Repeat data collection if needed.
20. Fit a straight line to this portion of the data, the slope of which is the block’s acceleration.
a. Tap and drag across the region of linear decrease to select the data points.
b. Choose Curve Fit ►Velocity from the Analyze menu.
c. Select Linear as the Fit Equation to fit a straight line to the velocity data.
d. Record the magnitude of the slope of the fitted line, which is the block’s acceleration, in your
data table.
e. Select OK.
21. Repeat Steps 18–20 two more times.

22. Place masses totaling 500 g on the block. Fasten the masses so they will not separate from the
block. Repeat Steps 18–20 three times for the block with masses. Record acceleration values in
your data table.

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 Static and Kinetic Friction

DATA TABLE
Part I Starting Friction

Mass of block kg

Part II Peak Static Friction and Kinetic Friction

Peak static friction Average

Total Normal peak static
mass force Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 friction
(m) (N) (N)

Kinetic friction Average

Total Normal kinetic
mass force Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 friction
(m) (N) (N)

Part III Kinetic Friction

Data: Block with no additional mass

Trial Acceleration Kinetic friction force k

(m/s2) (N)
1
2
3
Average coefficient of kinetic friction:

Data: Block with 500 g additional mass

Trial Acceleration Kinetic friction force k

(m/s2) (N)
1
2
3
Average coefficient of kinetic friction:

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 LabQuest 12

ANALYSIS
1. Inspect your graph of the force vs. time graph drawn in Part I. Label the portion of the graph
corresponding to the block at rest, the time when the block just started to move, and the time
when the block was moving at constant speed.

2. Still using the force vs. time graph you created in Part I, compare the force necessary to keep the
block sliding compared to the force necessary to start the slide. How does your answer compare
to your answer to question 1 in the Preliminary Questions section?

3. The coefficient of friction is a constant that relates the normal force between two objects (blocks
and table) and the force of friction. Based on your graph from Part I, would you expect the
coefficient of static friction to be greater than, less than, or the same as the coefficient of kinetic
friction?

4. For Part II, calculate the normal force of the table on the block alone and with each combination
of added masses. Since the block is on a horizontal surface, the normal force will be equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction to the weight of the block and any masses it carries. Fill in
the Normal Force entries for both Part II Data Tables.

5. Plot a graph of the maximum static friction force (y axis) vs. the normal force (x axis). Use
LabQuest, Logger Pro, or graph paper.

6. Since Fmaximum static = s N, the slope of this graph is the coefficient of static friction s. Find the
numeric value of the slope, including any units. Should a line fitted to these data pass through
the origin?

7. In a similar graphical manner, find the coefficient of kinetic friction k. Use a plot of the average
kinetic friction forces vs. the normal force. Recall that Fkinetic  = k N. Should a line fitted to these
data pass through the origin?

8. Your data from Part III also allow you to determine k. Draw a free-body diagram for the sliding
block. The kinetic friction force can be determined from Newton’s second law, or F  = ma.
From the mass and acceleration, find the friction force for each trial, and enter it in the data
table.

9. From the friction force, determine the coefficient of kinetic friction for each trial and enter the
values in the data table. Also, calculate an average value for the coefficient of kinetic friction for
the block and for the block with added mass.

10. Does the coefficient of kinetic friction depend on speed? Explain, using your experimental data.

11. Does the force of kinetic friction depend on the weight of the block? Explain.

12. Does the coefficient of kinetic friction depend on the weight of the block?

13. Compare your coefficients of kinetic friction determined in Part III to that determined in Part II.
Discuss the values. Do you expect them to be the same or different?

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 Static and Kinetic Friction

EXTENSIONS
1. How does the surface area of the block affect the force of friction or the coefficient of friction?
Devise an experiment that can test your hypothesis.

2. Examine the force of static friction for an object on an incline. Find the angle that causes a
wooden block to start to slide. Calculate the coefficient of friction and compare it to the value
you obtain when the angle of the incline is 0°.

3. Try changing the coefficient of friction by using wax or furniture polish on the table. How much
does it change?

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