FRICTION

This project’s focus is friction and lubrication. It was done to

demonstrate the relationship between friction and lubrication and to educate the reader about the effects friction has on metal as well as the effects lubrication has on friction. The experiment was conducted to show which lubricant out of a set of two works best to reduce friction and to show if either of the two lubricants works better than none. Although the experiment focuses on sliding friction, the literature review is intended to give an idea of both static and sliding friction. The literature review also gives an example to show the important role of friction by showing how friction is a developing problem for research in future technology. Problem Statement Which lubricant reduces sliding friction the most? Purpose Statement The purpose of this project is to show which lubricant between WD-40 and oil reduces friction the most and to show the relationship between friction and lubrication. Hypothesis It is hypothesized that there is direct relationship between the amount of sliding friction between the block and the metal surface and the type of lubrication used on the metal surface. Literature review When two objects’ surfaces slide across each other they both experience sliding friction. (How Things Work: The Physics of Every Day Life pg. 55) Sliding friction is a force that acts to stop the sliding movement of objects. Microscopic pits and valleys cause sliding friction. When objects slide across each other these pits and valleys produce friction and wear. (How Things Work: The Physics of Every Day Life pg. 54) Because of sliding friction slowing objects down, much energy is wasted. “Most of this energy loss appears as heat, while a small portion induces loss of material.” – Encyclopedia of Science and Technology.