Why Is Friction Uphill When a Ball Rolls Uphill?

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When a ball rolls uphill, the force of friction acts in the same direction as the motion, which is uphill. This is because friction opposes the relative motion at the point of contact, and since the ball is moving upward, friction must also act upward to prevent slipping. The discussion emphasizes that regardless of the direction of rotation, the frictional force remains consistent in its direction relative to the acceleration of the center of mass. The complexities of analyzing the forces and torques involved in rolling motion are highlighted, particularly in distinguishing between linear and angular accelerations. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for solving problems related to rolling objects on inclined planes.
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If the ball were rolling uphill, the force of friction would still be
directed uphill as in FJg. 1O.19b. Can you see why'?

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4516/rollingm.jpg

I always assume the friction is always in opposite direction of the motion.
 
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if the ball is rolling down then

a(cm)=(mg sinβ - f)/m and Iα=fr
and since a=rα
(mgsinβ - f)/m=fr^2/I
f is positive from here so when it is rolling down f is upward opposing the motion of centre of mass.
if it is rolling up then
a(cm)=(f - mgsinβ)/m and Iα=-fr
so (f - mgsinβ)/m=-fr^2/I
from here too it is upward.
 
thank you.
 
hi azizlwl! :wink:

we can always take moments about the centre of mass

let's do so … the ball in the diagram is accelerating anticlockwise no matter whether it's rolling downhill or uphill …

since the only external torque about the centre of mass is the friction, that must also be anticlockwise in both cases! :smile:
 
tiny-tim said:
hi azizlwl! :wink:

we can always take moments about the centre of mass

let's do so … the ball in the diagram is accelerating anticlockwise no matter whether it's rolling downhill or uphill …

since the only external torque about the centre of mass is the friction, that must also be anticlockwise in both cases! :smile:



My assumption is that going downhill the rotation is anti clockwise and uphill the rotation will be clockwise. So the friction must reversed its direction.

By your explanation, it means we have another inclined plane on the left side, where the ball keep rolling up with same rotational direction from right position of the inclined plane..
 
azizlwl said:
My assumption is that going downhill the rotation is anti clockwise and uphill the rotation will be clockwise. So the friction must reversed its direction.

yes, the rotation will be clockwise, but the angular acceleration will be anti-clockwise

(because this is a freely rolling ball)

so the friction will be in the same direction, whatever the direction of rotation
 
tiny-tim said:
yes, the rotation will be clockwise, but the angular acceleration will be anti-clockwise

(because this is a freely rolling ball)

so the friction will be in the same direction, whatever the direction of rotation

Sorry i didn't read properly.
It's the rotational acceleration that remains the same uphill or downhill although the direction changes.

Analogy of throwing an object upward, direction changes but acceleration remains.

Doing Physics mental experiment is really a tough for me. Thank you.
 
Problem with rolling.
Can i use different approach.

Assume No friction as in inclined plane. The instantaneous velocity in contact with the plane is downward so the friction upward. Thus produce torque clockwise.

For the problem https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=603360.
Assuming no friction, the instantaneous velocity in contact with the ground is opposite of the force. Thus the friction is in direction of the force.

For uphill, the rotation will be clockwise or uphill thus instantaneous velocity in contact with the plane is downward giving friction in opposite direction that is uphill.
 
hi azizlwl! :smile:
azizlwl said:
Assume No friction as in inclined plane. The instantaneous velocity in contact with the plane is downward so the friction upward. Thus produce torque clockwise.

For the problem https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=603360.
Assuming no friction, the instantaneous velocity in contact with the ground is opposite of the force. Thus the friction is in direction of the force.

For uphill, the rotation will be clockwise or uphill thus instantaneous velocity in contact with the plane is downward giving friction in opposite direction that is uphill.

i'm not sure what you're saying, or what force you're assuming

it doesn't look right, because you're concentrating on the velocity of the point of contact, when the primary consideration is the direction of the acceleration (either linear or angular)

by force, are you still referring to gravity, or is this an extra applied force?

for an "external" applied force, such as a rope or gravity, the direction of friction is opposite the acceleration, but for an "internal" force such as from the engine, it is in the same direction as the acceleration
 
  • #10
I just try to find out the direction of friction force which to me it's very confusing.
For instance, a cylinder rolling downhill the friction direction is uphill
For cylinder rolling uphill, frictional force direction also uphill. You have given me the acceleration point view.
For a wound cylinder, the friction is in direction of the force pulling the string (as in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=603360).

Yes I'm concentrating on the velocity of the point of contact so that i will get direction of the friction which is in opposite direction of the motion(i guess it's always true).
 
  • #11
azizlwl said:
For instance, a cylinder rolling downhill the friction direction is uphill
For cylinder rolling uphill, frictional force direction also uphill. You have given me the acceleration point view.
For a wound cylinder, the friction is in direction of the force pulling the string (as in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=603360).

but that wound cylinder isn't rolling (on the table), and there's no friction …
azizlwl said:
The frictional force between table and cylinder is negligible.

:confused:
 
  • #12
Sorry about the wound cylinder question.
It was second question(repeat problem 11.70 if the frictional force between table and cylinder is negligible.)

11.70
The rope shown is wound around a cylinder of mass 4.0 kg. and I=0.020kg.m2, about the cylinder axis. If the cylinder rolls without slipping, what is the linear acceleration of its center of mass? What is the frictional force? Use an axis along the cylinder axis for your computation?

Solution
Choose left and ccw as positive. Write F=ma=20 +f=4a with f being the friction force at the floor. From τ=Iα=(20-f)(0.01)=0.02(s/0.10) =>a=6.7m/s2 and f=6.8

From the solution given frictional force f is direction of the 20N force. Intuitively it should be opposite of the cylinder motion.
So here i have to figure out how to determine the direction of the frictional force.

Thank you
 
  • #13
hi azizlwl! :smile:
azizlwl said:
Choose left and ccw as positive. Write F=ma=20 +f=4a with f being the friction force at the floor. From τ=Iα=(20-f)(0.01)=0.02(s/0.10) =>a=6.7m/s2 and f=6.8

no, you have a decimal point wrong somewhere :redface:

20 + f = 4a

20 - f = 20a :wink:
 
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