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Home > News & Articles > Rolling Friction: Definition, Examples, Laws, Causes, Coefficient and Formula
Updated on 06th October, 2023 , 6 min read
Rolling friction, also known as rolling resistance, is a type of frictional force that occurs when one object rolls over another. It is an essential concept in physics and engineering, playing a crucial role in various fields such as transportation, mechanics, and everyday life. Understanding rolling friction is key to optimizing the design and performance of vehicles, machines, and even sports equipment. This article will provide a detailed explanation of rolling friction, including its definition, causes, and examples.
The force that opposes the motion of a rolling body is referred to as rolling friction. When a ball is rolling on the ground, it ultimately comes to a stop. This is due to the ball encountering resistance in the direction of its velocity, meaning that a force is opposing the ball's motion and reducing its speed. Rolling friction is the name for this opposing force. The deformation of surfaces is the primary contributor to rolling friction. For instance, bowling balls, car tires, and ball bearings all experience rolling friction.
Advantages of Rolling Friction | Disadvantages of Rolling Friction |
| It minimizes the effort involved in moving objects. For example, stroller bags and conveyor belts make it easier to move heavy objects. | When rolling friction comes into play, speed becomes an obvious factor. But there will be limitations in controlling and maneuvering capabilities. That is why it's much easier to move around in shoes than on roller skates. |
| For a comfortable ride in vehicles, rolling friction is important or else if the wheels of vehicles would have been based on sliding friction the ride would be very tiresome and uncomfortable. | It is challenging to walk on surfaces with rolling objects because rolling friction is less than sliding friction. |
| Due to rolling friction, it becomes easier for us to move faster using roller skates than on shoes. | Rolling friction results in the dissipation of energy in the form of heat. When an object rolls, there is a continuous conversion of kinetic energy into heat energy due to the interaction between the rolling object and the surface. This energy loss can reduce the overall efficiency of a system or device. |
There are two formulas for rolling friction that are derived from the laws of rolling friction. These include:
F = KLn
Here,
F= rolling friction
K = load
L = constant to fractional power.
F= μ×W/r
Here,
F= force of rolling friction
μ = coefficient of rolling friction
W= load (weight/mass)
r = radius of curvature.
As we previously discussed, rolling friction is based on three principles of motion, which are as follows:
When an item rolls on the surface, certain things happen. As follows:
The amount of friction is influenced by these factors, including:
What is Rolling Friction
Although determining the coefficient of rolling friction is more difficult than determining the coefficient of sliding friction, the following statement and formula can help.
"The rolling friction coefficient is defined as the ratio of the rolling friction force to the total weight of the object."
Formula:
Fr =μrW
Where,
Frstands for the rolling resistance's resistive force.
μrstands for the rolling resistance coefficient.
Wis the weight of the moving body.
Example: A cart with a mass of 50 kg is rolling on a flat surface. The force required to keep the cart rolling at a constant speed is measured at 25 N. Calculate the coefficient of rolling friction.
Solution:
To calculate the coefficient of rolling friction, we can use the formula:
F = μ × W
where F is the force of rolling friction, μ is the coefficient of rolling friction, and W is the weight or load.
In this example, the force of rolling friction (F) is given as 25 N, and the weight (W) can be calculated by multiplying the mass (m) by the acceleration due to gravity (g), which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2.
W = m × g
W = 50 kg × 9.8 m/s^2
W = 490 N
Substituting the known values into the formula:
25 N = μ × 490 N
To isolate μ, we can divide both sides of the equation by 490 N:
25 N / 490 N = μ
0.051 = μ
Therefore, the coefficient of rolling friction (μ) in this example is approximately 0.051.
Here are some examples of rolling friction in short and crisp points:
The difference between sliding and rolling friction is that sliding friction happens when two surfaces rub against one another, whereas rolling friction happens when an object rolls on a surface.
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By - Nikita Parmar 2023-08-25 09:48:44 , 11 min readRolling friction is the force that opposes the motion of a rolling object. It is much less than sliding friction for the same pair of objects. When one object rolls upon another, there is theoretically no sliding or slip between them.
Some examples of rolling friction include: 1. A ball rolling on the ground 2. A car driving on a road 3. A wheelbarrow rolling down a hill 4. A train rolling on its tracks
The main cause of rolling friction is the deformation of the objects in contact. When an object rolls, it deforms the surface it is rolling on. This deformation creates a force that opposes the motion of the object.
Rolling friction can be reduced by: 1. Using smooth surfaces 2. Reducing the weight of the objects in contact 3. Using lubricants
Sliding friction is the force that opposes the motion of two objects that are sliding against each other. Rolling friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object that is rolling on another object. Rolling friction is always less than sliding friction for the same pair of objects.
Rolling friction can have a number of effects, including: Increasing the energy required to move an object, Reducing the efficiency of machines, Increasing the wear and tear on objects.
Some of the applications of rolling friction include: Transportation, Manufacturing, Construction, Sports etc.
Some of the challenges associated with rolling friction include: 1. It can be difficult to predict the amount of rolling friction that will occur 2. Rolling friction can vary depending on the materials in contact 3. Rolling friction can increase with the weight of the objects in contact
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