Sliding Friction

Friction is all around us, and although it enables us to walk and drive cars, it also leads to energy loss, which we would like to minimize for greater efficiency in machines! This experiment explores the force of friction acting on objects at rest and in motion. Using video tracking and our homegrown software “PhysTrack”, we will calculate the coefficients of static and sliding friction, providing insight into how friction affects the motion of objects.


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Overview

The Experiment
  • Understand the sliding and static frictions.
  • Perform video tracking with MATLAB and PhysTrack.
  • Collect, analyze, and fit data to mathematical models.
  • Calculate the coefficients for static and kinetic frictions.
  • Explore the relation between angle of inclination and coefficient of friction.
How does it work?

This experiment involves measuring the coefficients of static and sliding friction of a small block on an inclined plane. By gradually increasing the angle of inclination, we can determine the angle at which the block slips and calculate the coefficient of static friction. To measure the coefficient of sliding friction, we will use high-speed video tracking with our"PhysTrack" library in MATLAB to capture the block's motion as it slides down the plane. The data is fitted to various mathematical models, analyzed for trends and relations, and used to quantify the friction on our slide.



Get Inspired!
  • Projectile motion
  • Simple harmonic motion
  • Track kinematics of a fly
  • Tracking a basketball shot
  • Video tracking a carrom board discs
Major parts included:
  • Cue card
  • Meter rod
  • Camera stand
  • LED flashlight
  • LED light stand
  • Sliding assembly
  • 5 pieces sliding objects set


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