Program: BELT FRICTION
By: Ben Axelrod


    This is a neat little program that calculates the possible range of values 
for a weight on one end of a rope around any number of non-rotating bars so 
that it will not slip.  You must have the coefficient of static friction for 
this, but if you don’t have one, .2 is a good value to use for cotton rope on 
smooth metal.  NOTE: Enter the number of turns around the bars in whole numbers 
or fractions, NOT in radians.  That conversion is taken care of in the program.


    Example:  Lets say you have a rope with a weight of 50 pounds wrapped 
around 1 bar 1/2 a turn.  When prompted, enter 1 bar, .2 or the coefficient of 
friction you have, then 50 for the weight.  Then, when it asks for the number 
of turns on bar 1, enter 1/2 or .5.  You should see that you could hang about 
93 pounds on the other end of the rope and it will not slip.  Now you have a 
range of values that you could hang there with no slippage.  Isn’t that cool?


Questions, comments?   Email me:  bmaxelro@syr.edu