Trinity Walton Club Activity Archive

mexican camp week 2 monday

Friction Experiment

OBJECTIVE

To measure the coefficient of static friction between two surfaces using the IOLabs equipment.

MATERIALS

  • IOLabs device
  • Force sensor attachement for IOLabs
  • Different surface materials (e.g. wood, metal, plastic)
  • A block or object with a flat bottom surface
  • Digital scale
  • Computer with IOLabs software

PROCEDURE

  1. Setup: 
  • Connect the IOLabs device to the computer and ensure the force sensor is properly attached and calibrated. 
  • Place the block on one of the surface materials to be tested. 
  • Use the digital scale to measure the mass (m) of the block. Record this value. 
  1. Measuring Static Friction: 
  • Attach the IOLabs force sensor to the block. 
  • Gradually apply a horizontal force to the block using the force sensor until the block just begins to move. Ensure the force is applied steadily and parallel to the surface. 
  • Monitor and record the maximum force (Fs) just before the block starts to move. This force is the static friction force. 
  • Repeat the measurement five times and record all values. 
  1. Calculations: 
  • Calculate the normal force (N) acting on the block. This is given by N=mg 
  • Determine the coefficient of static friction (μs) using the formula: μs=FsN 
  • Average the results from the five trials to obtain the final value of μs for the tested surface. 
  1. Repeat for Different Surfaces: 
  • Repeat the entire procedure for each different surface material. 
  1. Data Analysis: 
  • Compare the coefficients of static friction for different surface pairs. 

↑