Mass And Weight's Effect On Friction

In this investigation we are going to find out what effect mass/weight has on friction. Friction is mainly a contact force that always acts on a moving object in the opposite direction of motion.

In this experiment, proof will be provided that if mass/weight is doubled, friction will also double as the greater the mass, the greater the friction force. This prediction on the formula:

F=mxa

From this formula, we can conclude that friction force and mass have a proportional relationship.

In this experiment I will make sure that I keep everything the same except the weight of the block, as the weight is my variable. The things that I must keep the same are:

Ø Surface the block is sliding on

Ø The wooden block- because the grain of the wood

Procedure:

1. Weigh the wood block by hanging it from the Newton scale. Record in the table

2. Attach the Newton scale to the hook on the wood block. Pull on the scale until the block just begins to move. Repeat with the same weight three times and calculate an average. Record this average for one trial in the applied force section of the static friction column of the table below.

3. For trial 2, add 0.5kg to the block and repeat step 2. For trial 3, add another 0.5 kg and repeat step 2. For trial 4, add another 0.5kg and repeat step 2. 4. Remove all of the weights

5. Drag the block along the wood plank at CONSTANT VELOCITY. Repeat with the same weight three times and calculate an average. Record this average for one trial in the applied force section of the kinetic friction column of the table below.

6. For trial 2, add 0.5kg to the block and repeat step 2. For trial 3, add another 0.5 kg and repeat step 2. For trial 4, add another 0.5kg and repeat step 2.

7. Make an Excel graph of Friction Force (Ff) vs. Normal Force (N) and use the slope of this graph to find the coefficient of static and kinetic