Revision Notes on Friction (class 8)

What is Friction?
 Friction is a force that comes into play when two surfaces come in contact with each
other.

 The Frictional force or the force of Friction acts in the opposite direction of the motion
of the object.

 The force of Friction opposes the relative motion between the surfaces of two moving
objects.

Figure 1 Force of Friction

Factors that can affect Friction

Figure 2 Contact between two surfaces

1. The irregularities of a surface: If we move an object with has an irregular or rough
surface on another surface which is also irregular, the force of Friction will be high in this case
and the movement of the object would be restricted.
2. The regularity of a surface or its smoothness: If the surfaces of either the objects or
are smooth, the force of Friction would be less and the object would move easily over the
surface. Even smooth surfaces have a certain irregularity.
3. If two surfaces are pressed hard: the force of Friction increases between two
surfaces if they are pressed hard and hence the movement of the object becomes restricted.
However, if there is no pressure the object can easily move.

Figure 3 Factors Affecting Friction

Types of Friction
1. Static Friction: The Frictional force that comes into play until an object starts moving
is called static Friction. An object has to overcome the static Friction force in order to start its
movement.
2. Sliding Friction: Sliding Friction comes into play whenever an object moves along the
surface of another object. Such a movement is called ‘slide’. Hence, sliding Friction is the force
that opposes the movement or slide of an object.
3. Rolling Friction: When an object is rolling on a surface the force of Friction which acts
upon it is called rolling Friction.
4. Fluid Friction: When an object moves in a fluid, the fluid exerts a fluid Friction upon
the object. It is also called air Friction (when the medium of travel is air) and viscous Friction
(when the medium of travel is water).

Figure 4 Types of Friction

Rolling Friction < Sliding Friction < Static Friction
Advantages of Frictional Force
Frictional force is necessary for various purposes in our daily lives such as:

 It allows us to walk on the earth surface.

 It allows us to write with a pen on a surface or a paper.

 It allows us to fix a nail in the wall.

 A moving object would never be able to come to the state of rest without the Frictional
force.

 It would not be possible to drive any automobiles on the road without the Friction force.

 It would not be possible to construct any buildings without the Frictional force.

Figure 5 Advantages of Frictional force

Disadvantages of Frictional Force
 Frictional force results in wear and tear of objects such as the moving parts of a
machine, the tyres of a vehicle, sole of the shoes etc.

 It also results in the production of heat. In the case of machines, the production of heat
leads to wastage of energy.

 The Frictional force also leads to a decrease in the speed of a moving object or some
time stops it.

 It can lead to noise pollution in certain cases. For instance, aircrafts produce loud
sound due to the resistance of the air.
 Figure 6 Disadvantages of Frictional force
How can we reduce or increase Friction?
Increasing Friction: Sometimes we need to increase Friction so as to avoid slipping of objects,
for example:
1. The sole of the shoes is grooved so that the Friction between our feet and ground
increases and we can walk safely

2. The tyres are treaded so that they can have a better grip over the ground and allow the
smooth movement of the vehicles.

3. Brake pads are used in bikes to stop them suddenly from moving by increasing the
amount of Friction.

4. Kabaddi players rub their hands with soil which helps in increasing the Friction
between the hands and allows them to have an easy grip of the opponent.

5. Gymnasts also apply a coarse substance so that they can have a better grip due to
increased Friction in their hands.

Figure 7 Increasing Friction

Reducing Friction: Sometimes in order to have a smooth movement of an object we need to
reduce Friction. For example,
 The powder is sprinkled over the carrom board to decrease the Friction between the
board’s surface and the striker. In this way, the surface of the carrom board becomes smooth.

 Grease is used in bicycles and other motors or different parts of a machine to reduce
Friction and increase their efficiency.

 Oil is applied on the hinges of the door so that they can move easily.

Figure 8 Decreasing Friction

Applying substances like oil, grease or powder allows in smooth movement as they block the
irregularities of a surface. The substances that can reduce the amount of Friction between
different objects are called lubricants. However, we can never reduce Friction to a level of zero.
There are always some irregularities present on the surface.

Figure 9 Lubricants
How wheels reduce Friction?
 We know that when an object rolls over a surface rolling Friction is produced which
resists its motion on the surface. However, its magnitude is lesser than the static and sliding
Friction.

 Wheels are circulating objects that turn around a center point.

 The wheels allow an object to roll over a surface rather than allowing them to slide over
the surface.
  This results in less Friction and hence easy movement of the object.

 Rolling Friction is also used in the parts of machines that are moving continuously.

 In this way, the sliding Friction is removed with the help of rolling Friction and therefore
the adverse effects of Friction such as the production of heat or wear and tear of the
mechanical parts are also reduced.

 For instance, ball bearings are being used in fans and bicycles to reduce Friction.

Figure 10 Ball Bearings

Fluid Friction

Figure 11 Fluid Friction

Air, water and other liquids collectively are called fluids. They also exert a Frictional force on the
object that travels through them. Such a Friction is called fluid friction or drag. The amount of
Frictional force by a fluid on an object depends upon the following:

1. The speed of the object with respect to the fluid.

2. The nature of the fluid, its viscosity or its tendency to resist the flow.

3. The shape of the object.

Fluid Friction comprises Internal and External Friction:

 Fluids comprise of internal Friction that occurs between the molecules of a liquid as
they are also in motion. The viscosity of a liquid, therefore, depends upon the internal Friction.

 An external Friction in fluids is the force exerted by the fluid on the object that flows
through it.

As an object travels in a fluid it loses its energy in order to overcome the fluid Friction.
Hence, things that can easily flow in fluids have special shapes.
 For instance, ships and boats have a particular shape that allows them to resist fluid
Friction.

 Birds and aeroplanes have a specific shape that allows them to fly in the air.

 Fishes also have a specific shape such as a tail and fins that allow them to swim
continuously in water and even prevent the loss of energy due to fluid Friction.

 Not only this, all the vehicles are designed in a way that they can resist the fluid
Friction because air is present everywhere.

Figure 12 Objects can resist Fluid Friction because of their special

Shape.

Class–VIII Science NCERT SOLUTION

Ch-12 Friction
1. Fill in the blanks.
(a) Friction opposes the ______________ between the surfaces in contact with each
other.
(b) Friction depends on the ______________ surfaces.
(c) Friction produces ______________.
(d) Sprinkling of powder on the carom board__________ friction.
(e) Sliding friction is ____________ than the static friction.
Ans. Fill in the blanks.
(a) Friction opposes the relative motion between the surfaces in contact with each
other.
(b) Friction depends on the nature surfaces.
(c) Friction produces heat.
(d) Sprinkling of powder on the carom board reduce friction.
(e) Sliding friction is less than the static friction.

2. Four children were asked to arrange forces due to rolling, static and sliding
frictions in a decreasing order. Their arrangements are given below.
Choose the correct arrangement.
(a) Rolling, static, sliding
(b) Rolling, sliding, static
(c) Static, sliding, rolling
(d) Sliding, static, rolling
Ans. (b) Rolling, sliding, static.

3. Alida runs her toy car on dry marble floor, wet marble floor, newspaper and
towel spread on the floor. The force of friction acting on the car on different
surfaces in increasing order will be
(a) Wet marble floor, dry marble floor, newspaper and towel
(b) Newspaper, towel, dry marble floor, wet marble floor
(c) Towel, newspaper, dry marble floor, wet marble floor
(d) Wet marble floor, dry marble floor, towel, newspaper
Ans. (a) Wet marble floor, dry marble floor, newspaper and towel.

4. Suppose your writing desk it tilted a little. A book kept on it starts sliding
down. Show the direction of frictional force acting on it.
Ans. The frictional force will act parallel to the inclined surface, opposite to the
direction of the sliding of book.

5. You spill a bucket of soapy water on a marble floor accidently. Would it make
easier or more difficult for you to walk on the floor? Why?
Ans. Soapy floor reduces the frictional force applied by the floor to maximum. That is
why; it is difficult to walk on a soapy floor.

6. Explain why sportsmen use shoes use shoes with spikes?

Ans. Sportsmen use shoes with spike because spikes produces the desired frictional
force and thus help in holding the ground firmly.
Note: You can answer better than this, try to develop your own answering skills.

7. Iqbal has to push a lighter box and Seema has to push a similar heavier box
on the same floor. Who will have to apply a larger force and why?
Ans. Seema will have to apply a larger force, because her box is heavier and heavier
object will have to undergo greater frictional force from the surface of contact.

8. Explain why sliding friction is less than static friction.

Ans. Suppose a box kept on the surface has to be pushed. If the box is slided then,
when the box starts sliding, the contact points on its surface do not get enough time
to lock into the contact point on the floor. So, the sliding friction is slightly less than
the static friction and we find it easier to move the box already in motion than to get
it started.
9. Give examples to show that friction is both a friend and foe.
Ans. (i) Friction as a friend:
(a) To hold a glass, we have ridges on our palm, which increase the friction between
palm and glass.

(b) We do write anything with pen or pencil because there is friction between the
surfaces of paper and point of pen or pencil.

(c) Teacher writes on black –board with chalk because of friction between black-
board surface and the chalk.

(d) If there is no friction, then a moving body would never stop.

(ii) Friction as a foe:

(a) Friction wears out materials, whether they are screws, ball-bearing or soles of
shoes.

(b) Friction can also produce heat, which increases wear and tear of machine parts. It
also causes much wastage of energy because this heat is not utilized.

10. Explain why objects moving in fluids must have special shapes.
Ans. Birds and the fishes have to move about in fluids all the times. Their bodies
must have evolved to shapes which would make them not to lose much energy in
overcoming friction. Such shapes are called streamlined. Cars are also designed so
that their shapes resemble the streamlined shapes of birds, fishes, etc.