Measuring the coefficient of friction

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on measuring the coefficient of friction of frozen solutions, specifically ice in contact with various materials. The user proposes using rubber as a more frictional material to facilitate measurement against ice. It is confirmed that the coefficient of friction is dependent on both contacting surfaces, with examples such as ice on wood versus ice on steel. Additionally, factors like temperature and pressure complicate the measurement process.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the coefficient of friction and its dependence on surface materials
  • Familiarity with experimental setups involving ramps and blocks
  • Knowledge of the physical properties of ice and its interaction with different materials
  • Basic principles of temperature and pressure effects on friction
NEXT STEPS
  • Research methods for measuring the coefficient of friction in frozen solutions
  • Explore the effects of different materials on the coefficient of friction with ice
  • Investigate the impact of temperature and pressure on ice friction
  • Learn about experimental design for friction measurement using ramps and blocks
USEFUL FOR

Students conducting experiments in physics, researchers studying material properties, and anyone interested in the mechanics of friction involving ice and various surfaces.

Cheesycheese213
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Hi!
Sorry if this isn't a good question, but for an experiment, I wanted to try measuring the coefficient of friction of frozen solutions, but wasn't sure how to do it? I thought that since ice would have a low coefficient of friction, it would be interesting to see if solutions with water and some other solute would affect that?

I thought also that since the friction from ice so low, I would have to choose the other material as something that has more friction so it's easier to measure (maybe rubber?), but then I wasn't sure how to do the actual ice part.

When we did those experiments in class, we used a ramp and a block to find the coefficient of friction between the two, but I was wondering if it would be okay if we had the ramp stay as the same material, and then change the "block", which would be the ice?
Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The coefficient of friction depend on both contacting surfaces. Change one surface and the coefficient of friction changes. Ice on wood is different than ice on steel for example. And for ice you have other complicating factors as temperature and pressure.
 

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