What is the Minimum Coefficient of Friction to Prevent Block Movement?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kaxa2000
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Block Surface
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the minimum coefficient of friction required to prevent a block from moving under the influence of tension. The problem involves concepts from mechanics, specifically relating to forces acting on the block, including tension, normal force, and gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore how to relate the forces acting on the block to the coefficient of static friction. Questions arise about whether to set the block's acceleration to zero and how to incorporate static friction into their calculations. Some participants discuss different methods to arrive at the coefficient of friction and question the validity of their results.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing their reasoning and calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between tension and friction, but there is no explicit consensus on the best approach or the correctness of the calculated coefficient of friction.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem does not provide a coefficient of friction or specific details about the forces acting on the block, leading to questions about assumptions and the setup of the problem.

Kaxa2000
Messages
71
Reaction score
0
Minimum coefficient of friction b/t block and surface that would be required to keep block from moving?

I first solved to find the acceleration w/o friction since friction wasn't given in the problem. How do I solve for the min friction to keep the block from moving? Do I set the block's acceleration to zero and factor in static friction and then solve?

Hopefully you guys know what I mean..if not let me know
 
Physics news on Phys.org


I'm assuming you are given a force that will be acting on the block, and the blocks mass?
Remember that [tex]F_{f}=\mu_{s}N[/tex]. You hopefully know both the normal force and the frictional force required to counter whatever force is being exerted on the block. Can you solve for the coefficient of friction?

Is that what you were looking for?
 


There's a tension on the block, normal force, and gravity...but the problem doesn't mention a friction. So I first solved the problem for acceleration without friction at all. But then the problem proceeds to ask what coefficient of friction I would need to prevent the block from moving at all.

At first I did:

T = max

since tension is the only thing acting on the block

I didn't include friction since problem doesn't give friction.

Now to get the coefficient of friction to keep it from moving would I do this?

-Fs + T = 0?

Fs = usN being the static friction

and solve from there?

thats all i need to know
 
Last edited:


Couldn't I also set The Tension equal to the weight times the friction and solve for friction? I solved it both ways(this way and the way I explained in my previous post) and got the same answer of 1.02 as my coefficient of static friction.

The tension = 100N

the w = mg

=(10kg)(9.81m/s^2) = 98.1N

100N = (98.1N)(Fs)

= 1.02Doesn't this seem a little to high though? The weight of the block is 10kg and the weight of the mass hanging by a pulley on it is 100N = 10.2 kg. You would think not much friction is required to keep it from moving...I'm not sure...any input?
 


You essentially did the same thing in both methods no?

The required coefficient is proportional to the tension force.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
22
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
4K
Replies
61
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
27
Views
2K