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Home > News & Articles > Frictional Force: Definitions, Features, Types, Causes, Formula, Factor Affecting, Effects, How to Calculate, and Applications
Updated on 06th October, 2023 , 7 min read
The frictional force is a fundamental concept in physics that arises when two surfaces come into contact and resist relative motion or the tendency of motion. It plays a significant role in various aspects of our daily lives and has both practical and theoretical implications across diverse fields.
Friction is an essential concept in the world of physics and engineering, shaping the way objects interact with each other in everyday life. The frictional force is a fundamental force that resists the relative motion or tendency of motion between two surfaces in contact.
Frictional force arises due to the roughness of surfaces at a microscopic level. When two surfaces come into contact, irregularities, and asperities on their surfaces interlock, causing resistance when one surface slides or attempts to slide over the other. This force opposes the applied force or the motion and prevents sliding from occurring effortlessly. In essence, a frictional force acts as a brake, converting kinetic energy into thermal energy.
Here are the major features of Frictional Force in detail-
The definitions and examples of each type of Frictional Force are mentioned below in the table-
The table given below lists the causes of frictional forces and their examples-
There are several factors that influence the magnitude of frictional force and the same are listed here in detail-
Frictional Force has a range of effects, both positive and negative, in various applications-
Here is the formula for frictional force-
Where,
Ff: Frictional Force
μ (Mu): Coefficient of Friction
N: Normal Force
The steps to calculate the Frictional Force Formula are given below-
The coefficient of Friction is a number that tells us how much surfaces like to stick or slide against each other.
The Coefficient of Friction is like a special number that helps us understand how well surfaces like to stick together or slide against each other. It's a bit like a secret code between materials. If this number is high, the surfaces really want to grip onto each other, and if it's low, they slide more easily.
Friction force, a phenomenon deeply rooted in the principles of physics, extends its influence far beyond theoretical discussions. It finds its relevance and application in numerous real-world scenarios, shaping the way we interact with our environment and enabling the functionality of various devices and systems. Many of the real-life applications of Frictional Force are given here-
The Frictional Force differs with the surfaces it is originating from. Here is a table listing all the different surfaces that affect the Frictional Forces-
The detailed differences are given below-
Problem: Calculate the frictional force between a 50 kg wooden crate and a rough floor with a coefficient of friction of 0.3. The crate is on the verge of sliding but is not moving. The acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s2.
Solution: The frictional force can be calculated using the formula: F f =μ⋅N , where N is the normal force
Given:
Mass of crate (m) = 50 kg
Coefficient of friction (μ) = 0.3
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s2
The normal force (N) can be calculated as-
N= m⋅g.
N= 50kg⋅9.8m/s2=490N
Now, the frictional force (Ff ) can be calculated:
F f =μ⋅N=0.3⋅490N =147N
Here are some interesting facts about Frictional Force-
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By - Nikita Parmar 2023-08-25 09:48:44 , 11 min readImagine a dance between surfaces – when they meet, a force emerges that stands in the way of motion. This force, known as friction, is like the unexpected partner that steps in when objects interact. In the realm of machines, however, friction plays a trickster's role, diminishing their mechanical prowess. It's as if the dance of efficiency gets tangled, causing the ratio of what's gained to what's put in to lose its vigor due to the sly influence of friction.
The Coefficient of friction is a magical number that reveals how much surfaces love to stick or slip against each other.
There's static friction, which prevents things from starting to move – think of a heavy box that resists being pushed. Then, there's kinetic friction, which opposes already moving objects, like when you slide a book on a table. Rolling Friction takes on rolling objects, such as a ball on the ground, slowing them down over time. Finally, Fluid Friction stands against objects moving through fluids, like the resistance a swimmer faces in water. Each type of frictional force plays a distinct role in our interactions with the world around us.
Friction, a force that resists the motion between objects, shares the same unit as force. The SI unit for force is the newton (N).
Two cards rubbing as they move in a deck show sliding friction. Rolling friction happens when things roll against each other, like a log on the ground or the wheels of a moving vehicle.
Friction is really important because it helps us stop things from moving too easily. It also makes it possible for us to do things like walking, writing, holding objects, and even hammering nails into walls by creating a force that pushes back.
Static friction is like a force that stops something from moving when it's supposed to stay still. It's when you try to push something that's not moving, but it doesn't start moving on the surface it's sitting on.
The First Law of Friction: It's harder to start moving something (like pushing a heavy box) than to keep it moving once it has started. So, you need more force to make it begin moving. The Second Law of Friction: The amount of friction depends on how heavy the object is. Heavier things usually have more friction. The Third Law of Friction: Friction doesn't care about the size of the object's surface. It only depends on how hard the surfaces are pressed together. If you press things together harder, you get more friction. The Fourth Law of Friction: Different materials have different amounts of friction. For example, sandpaper has a lot of friction, while ice has very little. The Fifth Law of Friction: Friction always opposes motion. It tries to stop things from sliding or moving. So, if you push something to the right, friction will try to push it to the left to stop it.
Kinetic friction is the force that tries to slow down things that are already moving on a surface. Imagine trying to slide a book on a table – the force that makes it stop or slow down is kinetic friction.
Friction makes things roll by giving them traction or grip on a surface, so they can move forward smoothly without slipping.
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