Friction
What is friction?
A force that slows down the moving object and has its effect in the opposite direction
of the object's movement
If you roll a ball on the ground, it slows down, why?
When the ball moves on the ground there is a force that is opposite to the direction of the ball
which makes the ball slow down until it stops.
Activity (1): Speed effects on the amount of friction:
1) put the wooden surface on the books in a way that
prevents the cube to go down (slope)
2) Increase the number of books gradually.
Conclusion:
By increasing the number of books the slope increases
which makes the friction force to decrease so the cube
moves faster
Therefore: the friction affects the speed of the moving body. When the
friction force increase the object's speed decreases and vice versa.
Likely when you ride your bike and then stop pedaling the bike speed
decreases gradually until it stops due to the friction force between the
ground and the bicycle tires.
What is meant by "friction force"?
It is the amount of force that exists between two surfaces and effects the movement in the
opposite direction.
The type of surface affects the amount of friction force:
Will a small ball move with same speed on glass as on cement ?
No, the friction force between the ball and cement is greater than that between the ball and glass.
So, the ball on the cement will stop sooner than on the glass.
Conclusion: as the surface is more rough the friction force increase and vice versa.
The following chart represents the amount of friction
force between different surfaces
Note:
- Friction occurs between two surfaces when one of
them touches the other
- Friction force is always in the opposite direction to
the movement
Made by: Mohamed Hatem
Friction is not restricted to solids sliding or tending to slide
over one another. Friction also occurs in liquids and air.
The effect of friction force on objects
moving in water:
1- When an object moves fast in water the friction force
increases
2- The friction force of water acts in the opposite
direction of the movement.
The fish is stream lined in shape to decrease the friction force between the water and fish.
The effect of friction force on objects
moving in air:
1- Air resistance on objects moving in air is only observed
on objects moving so fast
2- When a car moves so fast the friction force increases
3- The friction force of air acts in the opposite direction of
the movement
The cars are stream-lined in shape to decrease the friction
force between the car and the air
The friction occurring on an object moving in air is called
" Air resistance"
The friction occurring on an object moving in water is
called "Water resistance"
Air resistance effect the car in opposite direction of its
movement. The air resistance is like the friction force because
it impedes the car movement. The effect of the air resistance is
great and clear when the car moves fast and it decreases when
the car slows down.
When the amount of the air resistance and the car
movement are the same, it means that the elective (opposite)
forces are equivalent. So the car moves at constant speed.
A direct relation is found between the object surface
exposed to air and the amount of air resistance.
Made by: Mohamed Hatem
Advantages of friction
- A car movement needs friction with increase of speed or even
in the change of car direction. The head of the matchstick is
- Friction helps you to walk or you will slip down and cannot a chemical substance that
walk. ignites (burns) by the friction
- Lightening of a match needs friction between it and the box.
Disadvantages of friction
The direction of friction force is always the opposite to the direction of
movement, so:
- The internal parts of machines are often damaged
- A lot of money is wasted
Ways to decrease the friction force
- By using lubricants and oils. They decrease the friction force
between the objects so it is used in engines.
- By using ball bearings.
What is meant by ball bearings?
They are formed of a group of small balls with smooth surface and
put between internal parts of engines. Therefore, it decreases the
friction force.
Ball bearings are used, for example, at the axis that transmit the
motion from the car engine to the wheels
Give reason:
We can't walk without friction?
Because friction prevents you from slipping on the ground.
The increase of the fuel combustion by increasing the speed of a To decrease fuel combustion
car: drivers should not increase the
Because the air resistance increase by increasing the speed of the car speed up to a certain limit.
car, to overcome this resistance more power is needed that uses more fuel.
A ball moves on glass faster than on cement:
The friction force depends on the type of surface
The streamline shape of new cars:
To decrease the air resistance.
Drivers lose control of the vehicles on wet roads:
Because water on roads decrease the friction force between the
road and the car tires.
Parachutist land safely on ground:
When he opens his parachute the area exposed to air increases so
the air resistance increase (decreases the falling speed) so he lands
safely.
Tires have grooves (channels) along its perimeter:
To prevent water from staying between the tires and the road
Made by: Mohamed Hatem
What are grooves (channels)?
It is considered a place for the water to be kept inside and be
squeezed out.
What happens when the car moves slowly on a wet road?
The tires press the water on the road and the water is squeezed
out
What happens when the car moves fast on a wet road?
There is no enough time for the tires to squeeze water out
(the water is trapped between the tires and the road), so the
water decreases the friction between the tires and the road.
(The driver loses control)
Made by: Mohamed Hatem
