Lab #1: What increases friction?Objective

To design an experiment which will determine variables relevant to increasing friction on an inclined ramp.

Introduction

The surfaces of all materials, regardless of polishing, have many irregularities that oppose the sliding of other materials on them. Friction is the force that opposes the sliding motion of two surfaces that are in contact.

Friction is the force responsible for keeping cars from sliding off of a road. If there is not enough friction, a car taking a turn will slide off the edge of the road (this is called understeering).

Friction also makes it possible to leave an object on an inclined plane, like a ramp, without the object sliding. The steeper the incline, the more friction needed to keep objects from sliding.

If there is zero friction, then any moving object will continue moving (until it impacts something else). Ice has little friction, which is why skaters are able to move across it very quickly.

Apparatus Use the online stimulation found here - only for practicing and understanding what affects friction. Select ('Show numerical values') to get the numerical value of force of friction. Vary the mass of m1 and m2, also vary the coefficient of friction and angle of inclination and observe the change in force of friction.

https://ophysics.com/f3.html

Atwood's Machine & Inclined Plane with Friction Mass of m. = 8.6 kg Show Free Body Digrams C Show Numerical Values O = 20.9" Mass of my = 9.3 kg D Coefficient of Friction between m. and Surface 0 = 20.90 Run Pause Reset