In a string and pulley problem, will friction increase or decrease the tension.can you please explain if you can?
Adding friction to a pulley problem, regardless of if a mass in on an incline or not, will almost always increase the tension in an atwood machine- type pulley problem. This is because friction will always oppose motion, so there will be more forces working against the force of tension. Therefore, to make the mass start moving, the force of tension will have to be greater than it would be if the system was frictionless.
Thx for Anne for this answer. Just post this here if someone wonders to here.
In a string and pulley system, the friction can indeed affect the tension. Let me explain how.
First, it's important to understand what tension is. Tension is the pulling force exerted by a string or rope when it is stretched. In a string and pulley system, tension is present on both sides of the pulley, and it must be balanced for the system to be in equilibrium.
Now, let's talk about friction. Friction is a force that opposes the relative motion of two objects that are in contact. In the context of a string and pulley system, friction can occur at multiple points, such as between the string and the pulley, or between the string and any other object it may come into contact with.
The effect of friction on the tension depends on the direction of the friction force relative to the direction of the tension force. If the friction force opposes the tension force, it will increase the tension. On the other hand, if the friction force assists the tension force, it will decrease the tension.
To better understand this, let's consider two scenarios:
1. Friction opposing the tension:
If the friction force between the string and the pulley opposes the tension force, it will increase the tension in the string. This is because the friction force acts against the motion of the string, making it harder for the tension force to overcome this opposition. As a result, more tension is required to keep the system in equilibrium.
2. Friction assisting the tension:
If the friction force between the string and the pulley assists the tension force, it will decrease the tension in the string. In this case, the friction force helps in supporting the load and reduces the amount of tension required to maintain equilibrium.
In summary, friction can both increase or decrease the tension in a string and pulley system, depending on the relative directions of the friction force and the tension force.