DA.V.

International School, Ahmedabad

Science
Class : VIII
Chapter -5 Friction
Notes

A. Fill in the blanks:

1. Friction always opposes any relative motion between the two surfaces that are in
contact with each other.
2. Static friction is always greater than sliding friction.
3. Sportsmen use shoes, fitted with spikes, to increase friction between the shoes and the
ground.
4. Sprinkling of talcum, on the carom board, helps to reduce friction.
5. Frictional force, on an object moving in a fluid, depends on its shape.
6. The shape of an aeroplane is streamlined to reduce, the effects of friction, due to air.
B. State True or False for the following statements:
1. When a body slides over smooth and wet surfaces, the amount of interlocking of
irregularities, of the two surfaces in contact, increases. False.
2. If a car moves eastwards, the force of friction acts southwards. False.
3. Friction depends on how hard the two surfaces press against each other. True.
4. The sole of the shoes and the tyres of the vehicles are treaded to decrease the effect
of friction. False.
5. Lubricants can be liquids, semi – liquids or solids. True.
6. Friction can be increases by using ball bearing between the moving parts of machines.
False.
7. Fluid friction can be minimized by giving suitable shapes to the objects moving through
the fluid. True.
C. Tick the correct option:
1. Option D
2. Option B: Static Friction
3. Option B: Rolling, sliding, static
4. Option B: Heat Energy
5. Option C: Sprinkle Talcum powder on the wooden surface
6. Option D: By putting a second identical block on the top of the given block.
D. Answer the following questions in brief:
1. Define the terms (a) static friction (b) sliding friction.
Ans. Static friction: we call the force of friction as static friction when it exists
between two surfaces in contact, between which there is no motion. The force of
friction which balances the applied force, during the stationary state of a body, is
static friction.
Sliding friction: the force of friction between two objects, when one of them is sliding
over the surface of the other, is known as the sliding friction between them. Sliding
friction is a little smaller than the static friction between the same two surfaces.
Code: Static – Stationary; Sliding - Smaller
 2. State the meanings of the terms (a) rolling friction (b) fluid friction.
Ans. (a) Rolling Friction: Rolling friction is the force of friction that comes into play
when one body rolls over the surface of another body.
(b) Fluid Friction: It is the force of friction exerted by liquids and gases (fluids) on
objects moving through them.
Keywords: Rolling, Surface, Liquids and Gases, Fluid
3. State the likely cause of friction.
Ans. Friction is directly associated with the roughness of the surfaces in contact. When
two surfaces are put in contact, the irregularities (ups/downs) of one surface get
interlocked with the irregularities of the other surface. We have to apply a force to
unlock this interlocking in order to enable the movement of the surfaces with respect to
each other.
Code: To unlock the movement the force has to remove the interlocked
irregularities of the rough surface.
4. A box is resting on the floor. To move it, a (variable) force is applied as shown in
the diagram (Diagram page no 106).
a. Give the likely value of the force of limiting friction.
Ans. 3F.
b. Why does the box stay at rest in the cases corresponding to fig (a) and Fig (b)?
Ans. Force of friction is self adjusting. It opposes the force applied on any object
from outside. When a force of F magnitude is applied (in fig a) the frictional force
also exerts a force of F magnitude in the opposite direction on the object. In the
same way the friction increases to 2F magnitude when the external force is
increased to 2F Fig b). Therefore the box remains stationary in both the cases.
Code: Self – adjusting: badao to badega, ghatao to ghatega.
c. Mark the direction of frictional force, and mention the kind of frictional force
that comes into play, in each case.
Ans. Direction of friction: (opposite to the applied force)
The kind of frictional force will be Static friction in (a) and (b) and sliding friction in
(c).
5. Name the kind of frictional force that comes into play, when a book, kept on a
collection of cylindrical pencils, is moved by pushing it.
Ans. Rolling Friction.
6. Why are objects given special shapes when they are moving through fluids? Write
the names given to these special shapes?
Ans. The objects moving through the fluids are given special shapes to ensure that the
fluid flows smoothly over their surface that is every particle passes a particular point
with the same speed and in the same direction. This is called the streamline flow. The
streamline flow of air over the surface of a vehicle reduces friction (air resistance) and
helps it to acquire a faster speed.
These special shapes are given the name “Streamlined Bodies”.
Coding: Fluids could not move smoothly because of friction. Therefore it took a
streamlined car to move faster.
E. Answer the following questions:
1. Define force of friction. List the factors affecting force of friction. Explain with
examples.
 Ans. Wherever an object moves or tends to move over the surface of another object
there is a force acting between the two surfaces in contact. We call this force as the
force of friction or simply friction.
The factors affecting force of friction are:
i. Nature of the two surfaces in contact – The force of friction is greater in
rougher surfaces like sand paper and lesser in smoother surfaces like glass plate.
ii. Force pressing the two surfaces together – A lighter box face less friction as
the interlocking between the two surfaces is not very strong in that case. The
same box will face very high friction if it is filled with weights as the interlocking
between the two surfaces become very strong in this case.
Code: Friction ka Nature samajhne ke liye Force ne dono Surface ko Press kiya.
2. A ball is allowed to roll down an inclined wooden plane from a given height. At the
foot of the inclined plane, it moves on a horizontal surface, differently ‘covered’,
one by one, as shown in the following figures (Diagram Page 107).
CASE A: Newspaper, CASE B: Woolen cloth, CASE C: Plane Glass Sheet
In which case, is the ball likely to move the longest distance? Give reasons for
your answer.
Ans. The ball will move the longest distance in CASE C, where the surface is covered by
glass sheet.
We know that the force of friction between two surfaces depends on the nature of
surfaces in contact. As glass surface is very smooth it provides very less chance of
interlocking with the surface of the ball. Therefore the ball moves the longest distance.
Coding: Smooth Surface – Less Interlocking, Longest Distance.
3. Explain why sliding friction is slightly less than static friction.
Ans. For a given pair of surfaces static friction is a little more than the sliding friction.
The relative motion between two surfaces starts when the interlockings between their
irregularities have been unlocked. Once this motion is taking place the irregularities act
just as obstruction against their relative motion, they are not interlocked now. Once the
motion starts, the contact points on one surface do not get enough time to lock into the
contact points of the other surface.
Coding: More Time – More interlocking (Static Friction)
Less Time – Obstruction (Sliding Friction)
4. Give reasons for the following:
a. We tend to slip when we step on the banana peel.
Ans. The friction suddenly reduces when the banana peel comes between the floor
and the foot causing us to slip.
Keywords: Peel – Friction – Reduces.
b. It is easier to push a lighter box than a similar heavy box on the same floor.
Ans. If we try to move a box over the floor by applying external force, the force of
friction, known as static friction, comes to play. For a lighter box the external force
is able to overcome the static friction very easily as the interlocking between the
two surfaces is not very strong. For a heavy box of similar size, the excess weight
results in very strong interlocking. Therefore the static friction also becomes more
powerful. The external force needed to overcome the static friction will be greater.
Keywords: Lighter Box – Interlocking not Very Strong
Heavy Box – Excess Weight – Very Strong Interlocking
c. The force, needed to start a cart, is (somewhat) greater than the force needed
to keep it moving with a uniform speed.
 Ans. The stationary cart has static friction acting on it, which means the surfaces
of the wheels and the road are interlocked at the contact points. To unlock the
contact points we have to apply great force. But a moving cart does not get enough
time to get interlocked with the road as sliding friction works on it. Therefore we
don’t have to apply much force to keep the cart moving.
Keywords: Stationary Cart – Static Friction
Moving Cart – Sliding Friction
d. Sportsmen use shoes fitted with spikes.
Ans. Spikes increase friction of the shoes because of which sportsmen get better
grip while running.
Keywords: Spikes – Better Grip
e. Ball bearings are used in machines.
Ans. Rolling friction is smaller than sliding friction. We can replace sliding friction
by rolling friction by using ball – bearing. Therefore to reduce friction to a great
extent ball – bearing is used in shafts of motors, dynamos, axles of vehicles etc.
Keywords: Ball Bearing – Rolling Friction – Smaller than sliding friction.
f. Tyres of vehicles need to be changed regularly.
Ans. The treads on tyres improve the grip on the road which is important for road
safety. On regular use, the treads flatten out due to wear and tear. These kind of
tyres are unsafe and may skid to cause accident. Therefore tyres should be replaced
regularly to ensure proper friction and proper road safety.
Code: Car ne grip improve karne ke liye Friction ke tread wale tyre pehne, nahi
to uske flat tyre skid hoke accident ho jata.
g. Machine parts are frequently oiled or greased.
Ans. The machine parts are frequently oiled or greased to increase the efficiency of
the machine by reducing the friction between the moving parts and minimizing the
wear and tear.
Keywords: Oiled/Greased – Increase Efficiency – Reduce Friction
h. Sport cars, aeroplanes and boats are designed to have a streamlined shape.
Ans. Aeroplanes and car bodies are made streamlined, i.e, pointed along their fronts
to reduce the effects of air friction when they move through the air or on the road.
This shape lowers the air resistance to a very low value and enables the car or the
plane to move really fast.
Keywords: Streamlined – reduce – air friction – Move fast
i. Metal chains are wrapped on tyres when they run on icy roads.
Ans. The friction between the tyres and the road is very little when the road is
covered with snow. This leads to skidding of vehicles from the road. To increase the
friction between the road and the tyres of the vehicles the metal chain is wrapped
on tyres.
Keywords: Metal Chain – increase friction – Less skidding
j. Rollers are used for transporting luggage.
Ans. Rollers are used under heavy luggage to reduce the contact points of the
luggage with the ground. Because of this rolling friction comes into play on the
luggage instead of sliding friction. As Rolling friction is lesser than static and sliding
friction, it reduces the labour and helps in the transport of the luggage.
Keywords: Rollers – Heavy luggage – Reduce – Contact Point – Reduce – Labour.
5. State and explain, with examples, how friction can help the cause of motion in
certain situations.
Ans. Friction can help the cause of motion in certain situation.
i. Friction helps in walking by increasing the grip between the surface and the
shoe. Without friction we won’t be able to move anywhere and keep on slipping
in the same place.
ii. Friction helps in the rolling of wheels. Without friction tyres of cars would
spin in one place and not move forward at all.
Coding: Friction ne humko chalna sikhaya, Rolling karke tyre ghumaya.
Value Based Question
Ramit and Kush, both students of class VIII, would often strongly argue with each
other about the different aspects of their day to day school life. However, they made
a very good ‘Doubles Team’ of their school, for the interschool badminton tournaments.
When playing together, they would forget all their differences and play as a ‘team’ to
ensure their school’s victory.
Their science teacher, who was also their badminton coach, would quote their example.
He would explain to his students how the force of friction can be a ‘good friend’ and a
‘source of help’ even though it was usually viewed only as a ‘trouble maker’.
1. State the values displayed by Ramit and Kush.
Ans. Good understanding, cooperation, team work and transparency.
2. Give two examples of situations in which the force of friction is a ‘source of help’.
a) Fixing nail on the wall
b) Writing on the black board.