Easily Measure the Coefficient of STATIC Friction With A Ramp

Find the coefficient of static friction ( mus ) between two materials by using one of them as a ramp.

Draw a free body diagram then use Newton's Second Law to analyze the forces, weight, normal force and friction in order to determine the coefficient of static friction between the block and the ramp.

The convenient part of this method is that it does not rely on knowing the mass of the block. The only data point that needs to be known is the angle at which the block slides down the ramp, also known as the critical angle.

This problem commonly comes up in physics including AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C Mechanics.

I am not sponsored by Sharpie.... yet.

[Ghost_DA]

Thanks so much for this. I didn't understand it when my teacher taught it for a class and boom 3 minute lesson from you and I got it.

[chupacadabra]

Thank you so much. This was really concise but super helpful!!