Force of Friction Lab, Gr.12 Physics

Essay by auth3nticHigh School, 12th gradeA+, October 2004

download word file, 5 pages 5.0

Introduction

The purpose of this lab is to determine:

the coefficient of friction between a rubber stopper and a wooden ramp

the coefficient of static friction between a wooden block and a wooden ramp

the coefficient of kinetic friction between a wooden block and a wooden ramp

The design of this experiment was done by placing a rubber stopper / wooden block onto a wooden ramp and tilting the ramp at a certain degree to cause the stopper / block to move. The measurements of the vertical distance and length of the wooden ramp would be needed in order to calculate the static coefficient of the two objects. However, too find the kinetic coefficient of the two objects, the distance that the wooden block travelled and the time it took to travel that certain distance would also be required. The independent variable is time and the dependant variable is ____________________.

Hypothesis:

coefficient of static friction on a rubber stopper and a wooden ramp is greater than the coefficient of static friction on a wooden block and a wooden ramp because rubber will resist more as it goes across a surface than wood

coefficient of static friction on a wooden block and a wooden ramp is greater than the coefficient of kinetic friction on a wooden block and a wooden ramp because it requires more force to get an object moving then to keep it moving at a constant

Diagram

Materials

Metre stick

Stop watch

Tape

Rubber stopper

Wooden block

Wooden ramp

Procedure

Coefficient between a rubber stopper and a wooden ramp:

1. A rubber stopper was placed onto a wooden ramp, the length of the wooden ramp was measured

2. The wooden ramp was then tilted at an angle to cause the rubber stopper to move slightly, the vertical distance...