What are some friction experiments?


Quick Answer

UNSW describes an experiment meant to work out the coefficient of static and kinetic friction. The experiment is set up on a table top surface that’s made of vinyl. Two iron disc, each a mass of 1 kg, are placed such that the lowest seats on a sample of artificial turf. To measure the horizontal force needed to overcome friction, a spring balance attached to the masses is pulled.

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Full Answer

An experiment to determine the friction between two sheets of paper is described by ABC. A simple set up involves pulling apart two sheets of paper to overcome the friction holding them together. Taking it a notch higher, two books of ordinary paper have their pages intertwined. While it’s easy to pull apart two sheets of paper, interleaved pages of two books are held together by more friction, and hence these are difficult to separate when pulled.

According to Vernier, one can experience static friction by trying to push a heavy box that rests on the floor. Pushing such a box lightly invokes an equal but opposite in direction static friction force. Applying more force to push the box increases magnitude of the friction. However, there is a limit to the friction force that can be produced between the floor and the box, as pushing harder eventually overcomes it and gets the box to move.

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