Abhimanyu rolled an electric cell from a certain point on an inclined wooden board; it travels some distance on Floor A. He then took the same electric cell and rolled it from the same point on the same inclined board on Floor B. His results are summarized in the table below.
| Floor | Distance travelled |
|---|---|
| Floor A | 35 cm |
| Floor B | 20 cm |
a. Identify the type of friction acting in both cases.
b. Which floor offers greater friction? Give reason for your answer.
Answer (2)
a. When Abhimanyu rolled the electric cell, the type of friction acting in both cases is rolling friction . Rolling friction occurs whenever an object rolls over a surface. It is generally less than sliding or static friction because there are no components resisting the rolling motion as strongly.
b. Floor B offers greater friction. The reason is that the cell traveled a shorter distance (20 cm) on Floor B compared to Floor A (35 cm). This suggests that Floor B has a rougher surface, causing more resistance and therefore more friction, which slows down the motion of the rolling cell more quickly than Floor A.
To understand this, consider that friction is the force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. The amount of friction depends on the nature of the surface. A smoother surface, like Floor A, provides less friction, allowing the cell to travel further, whereas a rougher surface, like Floor B, increases resistance, reducing the distance traveled by the cell.
Abhimanyu experienced rolling friction with the electric cell on both floors. Floor B has greater friction, as indicated by the reduced distance the cell traveled on that surface. This suggests that Floor B is rougher than Floor A, creating more resistance to the cell's motion.
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