My question is would this lab procedure be a valid method ofcalculating the coefficient of static friction when you are onlyallowed to make measurements of distance and not of mass. Whatsteps should I add or change?
Lab Objective: Find the coefficient of static frictionbetween a CPO sled and a smart track by only measuring thedistance.
1. Angle the straight track so that it acts as aramp
2. Draw the freebody diagram of the sled on the straighttrack showing a normal force perpendicular to the rampsurface
3. Break the horizontal and vertical forces into their xand y components and sum them together. Make sure to break theforce of gravity apart into its x and y components, applyingNewtons’s 2nd law equations to establish relationships betweengravity, Fn, and static friction. The x and y components of gravityare the normal force as its y component, Fg (y) = Fn = mgcosθ and Fg (x) = mgsinθ as the x component.
4. Measure the horizontal and vertical distances of theramp by using a meterstick.
5. Calculate the angle at the horizontal (angle ofincline) by using inverse tan(height of ramp /baselength).
6. Calculate the tangent of the angle of incline usingthe equation of tanθ=sin θ/cos(θ). The coefficient of staticfriction is tangent to the angle at which the sledslides.
