Purpose:

To learn how to determine and calculate a pair of objects coefficient of friction.

Activity:

Step 1: Gather a long flat board, pale of water, paper towels and one shoe from each person in the group.

Step 2: Before doing the lab, order the shoes from least friction to highest friction. (Which shoe will slide the easiest to which shoe will be most difficult to slide.)

Step 3: Determine a starting point on the board that you will place all shoes.

Step 4: Place the first shoe on the board. Raise one end of the board very slowly until the shoe begins to slide. At the same time, two other students should be at the axis point of the board with protractors to determine at what angle the shoe begins to slide.

Step 5: Repeat Step 4 but wet the shoe and board.

Calculations:

tanq =m =A/B

Questions:

Which of the shoes had the greatest coefficient of static friction while dry?
 

Brand	Shoe	Angle (q )	Coefficient of Friction m

Which of the shoes had the greatest coefficient of static friction while wet?
 

Brand	Shoe	Angle (q )	Coefficient of Friction m

Speculate as to why the order of the shoes came out the way it did.