Carter Stephan

https://doi.org/10.64823/ijter.2601007

Friction is a resistive force between two surfaces that slide against each other. This experiment investigated how different materials affect frictional behavior on an imitation road surface. Rubber, ABS plastic, aluminum, and poplar were all dry-slid using a paver stone as a ramp to imitate asphalt. Each material was placed on top of the ramp. Then, the angle was increased until the sample moved. Additionally, the angle for the object to fall at a constant velocity was found. Each material was tested five times with two recorded angles for each trial. The values were then used to calculate friction coefficients. The results showed that rubber had a static friction coefficient of μ = 0.91, followed by wood at μ = 0.62, then plastic with μ = 0.47, and finally aluminum at μ = 0.30. Rubber also had the highest kinetic friction, due to its low hardness and loose molecular structure. Alternatively, aluminum displayed the lowest friction coefficient, even though it had the highest surface energy. This demonstrates that surface bonding alone does not have a large impact on frictional behavior. These findings show the importance of variables such as material roughness, composition, weight, hardness, and intermolecular bonding in friction. Additionally, this experiment depicts possibilities for tire applications. Wood is a possible alternative due to its stability and relatively high friction. Material weight and environmental variables were all controlled to better test properties as significant variables. The demonstrated results can influence environmentally friendly tire development, balancing frictional performance with sustainability.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurological disorder that affects 60% of the United States population; the severity of this disease continues to grow, which disrupts motor capabilities and affects quality of life. PD has several therapies, including neurosurgery, pharmacological interventions, and traditional physical therapy, though some may not be available for individuals as the disease progresses. Therefore, there is an increasing need for novel interventions to treat motor dysfunction. This study aimed to utilize a novel non-motor intervention to improve gait function. Participants completed three sessions, spaced 24 and 72 hours apart. During each session, participants completed an obstacle course as many times as possible within three minutes, aiming to minimize errors. Gait initiation and steady-state gait were evaluated before and after the first and last sessions. There was a significant reduction in errors and reaction time (p<0.05). Four separate ANOVAs were conducted to show the effects of the model on step length and variability between initial steps and steady state. A significant improvement was observed in the length of the first step of gait initiation. No significant changes were detected in other gait parameters. This study demonstrated that the novel intervention is feasible and can improve reaction time, reduce errors, and enhance the initial step length during gait initiation. Although no other significant gait changes occurred, the results suggest potential benefits. Future research with a longer duration and larger sample size is warranted to explore further this intervention's efficacy and potential learning effects.