Inclined Plane Friction: Independent of Mass?

  • Thread starter Jandaberg123
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Friction
So as long as the coefficient stays the same, friction will be independent of the mass.In summary, friction on an inclined plane depends on the force applied normal to the surface, which is mgcos(alpha). This means that the friction coefficient is independent of the mass, as long as it remains constant. Therefore, the statement on YouTube that Ffmax is mgcos alpha is correct.
  • #1
Jandaberg123
5
0
I heard somewhere that friction on an inclined plane is independent of the mass of the object. However on youtube, it says Ffmax is mgcos alpha. How is this correct, because it will mean the friction in not independent of the mass of the object.

Thanks a lot.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Jandaberg123 said:
I heard somewhere that friction on an inclined plane is independent of the mass of the object. However on youtube, it says Ffmax is mgcos alpha. How is this correct, because it will mean the friction in not independent of the mass of the object.

Thanks a lot.

Friction depends on the force applied normal to the surface. In an inclined plance, this force is mgcos(alpha). Youtube is correct then!
 
  • #3
Hassan2 said:
Friction depends on the force applied normal to the surface. In an inclined plance, this force is mgcos(alpha). Youtube is correct then!

Thanks, I just checked again and realized that the friction COEFFICIENT is independent of the mass, not the friction.
 

1. How is friction on an inclined plane independent of mass?

Friction on an inclined plane is independent of mass because it is caused by the surface roughness and the normal force acting on the object, not the mass of the object itself. Therefore, as long as the normal force and the surface roughness remain constant, the friction force will also remain constant regardless of the mass of the object.

2. What is the formula for calculating friction on an inclined plane?

The formula for calculating friction on an inclined plane is F = μN, where F is the friction force, μ is the coefficient of friction, and N is the normal force acting on the object.

3. How does the angle of the inclined plane affect friction?

The angle of the inclined plane affects friction by changing the normal force acting on the object. As the angle increases, the normal force decreases, resulting in a decrease in friction force. This relationship is described by the formula F = μN, where N is directly proportional to the cosine of the angle.

4. Are there any factors that can affect the coefficient of friction on an inclined plane?

Yes, the coefficient of friction on an inclined plane can be affected by factors such as the type of surface, the roughness of the surface, and the presence of any lubricants. These factors can change the amount of friction force acting on an object on an inclined plane.

5. Can friction on an inclined plane ever be completely eliminated?

No, friction on an inclined plane cannot be completely eliminated. It can be reduced by using smooth surfaces and lubricants, but it will always be present to some degree due to the natural roughness of surfaces and the normal force acting on the object.

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
24
Views
4K
Replies
41
Views
4K
  • Mechanics
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Mechanics
Replies
1
Views
952
  • Mechanics
Replies
6
Views
1K

Back
Top