Friction Lab Investigation: Changing the mass

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on investigating the factors affecting friction, specifically through an experiment involving a wooden block on a flat surface. As the mass of the block increases, the force required to initiate movement also increases, indicating a relationship between mass and friction. Participants clarify that the force measured with a Newton meter when the block moves represents the force of static friction, which is the frictional force needed to overcome to initiate motion. Understanding this distinction is crucial for accurately measuring and analyzing friction in experiments. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing static friction in the context of the experiment.
Gerard77
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


We have to investigate a factor that affects friction. For my expiriment, I placed a wooden block on a flat surface, and increased the force pulling the object using a Newton meter until the block moved. I increased the mass and the force required to pull it increased.

Homework Equations


Since the block has to overcome friction, how can we measure the force of friction?

The Attempt at a Solution


I know that when it moves, it has overcome the force of friction and the forces are unbalanced. But how can we know the max frictive force for each mass?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF!

Hi Gerard77! Welcome to PF! :wink:
Gerard77 said:
Since the block has to overcome friction, how can we measure the force of friction?

That's exactly what the Newton meter does! …

it measures the force! :smile:​
 
So would the result I recorded for the force required to overcome friction be the magnitude of the force of friction?
 
We just did this lab around 3 days ago!

OT:
The force required to overcome friction is not the force of friction, it is the force of STATIC FRICTION. Which is the amount of friction needed for the object to move.
 
We were researching static friction, so that's great. thanks.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Calculating Force and Acceleration in a Two Block System with Varying Friction
Replies
6
Views
1K
Finding the work done by a block
Replies
4
Views
3K
Newton's law problem: Pushing 2 stacked blocks on a horizontal table
Replies
13
Views
3K
Friction problem of a block sandwiched between 2 surfaces
Replies
6
Views
1K
Two blocks kept side by side and friction between them
Replies
9
Views
1K
Static Friction Required to Keep the System from Moving (Two Boxes)
Replies
16
Views
2K
Friction direction change in a inclined circular bend (car on a road)
Replies
11
Views
1K
How can I determine the instant the block overcomes static friction?
2
Replies
61
Views
3K
Understanding the Forces Behind Part B of the Graph
Replies
10
Views
2K
Is friction really always related to the normal force?
Replies
5
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top