High Friction Examples & Low Friction Examples


        Friction is a force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact. When two objects are in contact and one object is moving relative to the other, there is a force of friction that acts to resist the motion. Friction arises due to the microscopic irregularities on the surfaces of the objects in contact that interlock and prevent them from sliding smoothly past each other.

        Friction can be categorized into two main types: static friction and kinetic friction. Static friction is the force that prevents an object from starting to move when a force is applied to it. Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object that is already moving.

        Friction has many practical applications in our daily lives, including in transportation (e.g., car brakes, train wheels), sports (e.g., the grip of shoes on a playing surface), and construction (e.g., nail and screw fasteners). However, friction can also be a hindrance, leading to wear and tear of materials and the need for maintenance and lubrication to reduce friction and its effects.

High Friction Examples

Driving a car on the surface

        You need traction to keep going, whether you're driving a car or a large vehicle. It's so important that you can't move without it. Static friction keeps the car on the road when driving on a dry road, regardless of the speed of the car. The contact surface of the tire does not move relative to the road surface when viewed under a microscope and in slow motion. It's just that as the wheel rolls, fresh tire components come into contact with the road.


Applying Brakes to Moving car

        When the car is stopped, when people use their car's brakes, the brake pads initiate contact with the brake discs, creating friction that creates heat and prevents the wheel from moving, slowing or stopping the car. This is kinetic friction with car stops. Sliding or kinetic friction is formed when two objects touch and slide against each other.



Skating

        In skating, friction must be overcome in order for movement to occur. To speed up the skater, the leg muscles must press against the blade. As the blade sinks into the ice, the friction will be enough for it to stick to it. This is facilitated by the skating posture, in which the body is usually balanced slightly forward. So because the force of friction is so minimal, the skater will keep moving until they create more friction (by turning the skate) or hit a wall to stop.




Walking on Road

        when we walk on the road, we need friction because friction prevents the shoes from slipping. The soles of our shoes scratch the floor as we walk, creating friction. This friction keeps you from falling when you grab the floor. The substances used to create the two surfaces indicate the degree of friction. As the surface becomes rougher, friction increases. Friction generally acts in the opposite direction of the body's intended or intended motion. 



Writing on board

        When we draw on a blackboard, there is static friction between the chalk and the surface of the blackboard. When we push the chalk with little effort, it does not move; in this case, the applied force is consistent with the static friction force.

However, the chalk moves when we apply more force. Since static friction is a self-adjusting force, as the applied force increases, the chalk starts to move and we can write. Since the static friction will no longer be enough to resist the applied force beyond a certain point, the chalk will begin to move. When we write something, there is a resistance force between the chalk and the blackboard. 


Airplane flight

Friction drag is a type of friction that occurs when an aircraft is in flight. The air resistance along the surface of an aircraft is known as friction drag. Air molecules push the plane, slowing it down. To reduce drag, the aircraft must be designed so that the surface area is limited and the trailing edge is smooth. These forms are called streamlined or aerodynamic.  

As an object moves through the air, the air closest to its surface is drawn in with it, pulling or rubbing against the air it passes through. As soon as an object is scratched in the opposite plane of motion, frictional drag occurs. The leading edge is the thin layer of air closest to the surface of a moving object. Friction resistance occurs in this area.


Garden slide sliding down

        Since the slide is an inclined plane, gravity pulls you down and makes you slide. Both you and the slide experience friction along the way. Friction is the force that causes objects to slow down when they come into contact with each other. During friction, heat is released, which is immediately removed to the atmosphere. Students who wear bare feet may feel the heat generated when their body contacts the slide. Even if you exchange energy, it is always conserved. 

        You fall more gradually than if you were just jumping off the top of the slide, because some of the potential energy you had at the top of the slide is wasted in friction as you descend. To reduce friction, the guides are made of smooth material. Students can try sliding on different pieces of fabric, coats, and other items to see which materials minimize friction the most and allow them to go down the slide faster. 


Lighting a match

        Friction is needed to light a match. The match head rubs against the red stripe on the side of the matchbox. To make it extra sharp, this stripe on the box contains some crushed glass. When a solid match head touches a sandy sheet, friction occurs. In this process, kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy or heat. This releases enough heat to start a chain reaction.


Removing just from carpet

        When the stick is hit on the carpet, the stick acts on the carpet with a force that makes it move. The inertia of the dust particles on the carpet does not allow the carpet to change its movement. As a result, the forward movement of the carpet creates a reverse force on the dust particles, pushing them in the opposite direction. Therefore, when the carpet is littered, the dirt comes out. 


Some Questions are frequently asked about it:

What is friction and what is the importance in daily life?

Friction force is the force that occurs when two surfaces try to move differently in the same way. The main purpose of the friction force is to provide resistance to the movement of one object over another.
        Friction is usually viewed in terms of what it would be like if it didn't exist. Without friction, people would not be able to walk, drive, or grab anything. Pens and pencils in such a situation would be useless. When using brakes, friction is also needed to stop the car or bike.

What are the examples of high friction surfaces?
  • Glass on glass. 
  • Rubber on rubber. 
  • Metals on the skin.
What causes friction?

Such bonds cause friction when two surfaces are pressed against each other. Friction can also be caused by a rough surface. There are flaws in a smooth surface, no matter how flawless it seems. Friction is a limiting force due to the relative motion of two surfaces in contact. Surface roughness during friction and adhesion of molecules have two main causes.

Low Friction Examples

        Low friction is a condition in which the resistance or force opposing motion between two surfaces in contact is reduced, making it easier for the surfaces to slide past each other. Friction is the force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact and is caused by the microscopic irregularities on the surfaces that interlock with each other, making it difficult for the surfaces to slide past one another.

    Here are some examples of low friction:
  • Ice Skating: When you ice skate, the smooth surface of the ice creates very little friction, allowing you to glide effortlessly across the rink.
  • Bowling: The smooth surface of the bowling lane and the polished ball create very little friction, making it easier for the ball to roll towards the pins.
  • Sledding: When you sled down a snowy hill, the sled glides over the snow with very little friction, allowing you to pick up speed quickly.
  • Air Hockey: The puck in air hockey floats on a cushion of air, reducing friction and allowing it to move very quickly across the table.
  • Hydroplaning: When a car drives on a wet road, the water can create a layer between the tires and the road, reducing friction and causing the car to hydroplane or slide on the surface of the water.
  • Zip-lining: A zip-line is a cable suspended high above the ground, allowing a rider to slide down the line with very little friction.
  • Bobsledding: The smooth ice on a bobsled track and the aerodynamic design of the sled create very little friction, allowing the sled to move very quickly down the track.
  • Rolling a ball on a smooth surface: Rolling a ball, such as a ball bearing, on a smooth surface with little to no friction can allow it to roll for a long distance without slowing down.
There are some important question about low friction occurs?

Low friction occurs when there is little resistance between two surfaces that are in contact. The resistance or force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact is called friction. Friction occurs due to the microscopic irregularities on the surfaces that come into contact, which interlock with each other, making it difficult for the surfaces to slide past one another.

        Low friction occurs when there is a reduction in the amount of force opposing motion between the surfaces. This can happen for several reasons, such as the use of materials with low friction coefficients, such as Teflon or graphite, or through the use of lubrication, which creates a thin layer between the surfaces that reduces the contact between them, thus reducing the friction. 
        Other factors that can contribute to low friction include the smoothness of the surfaces in contact, the angle of contact, and the speed at which the surfaces are moving. For example, smooth surfaces with less roughness or irregularities, such as ice or polished metal, will have lower friction compared to rough surfaces, and surfaces that are moving at slower speeds tend to have higher friction than those moving at higher speeds.

Role of Low friction in our daily life?

Low friction plays an important role in our daily lives in many ways. Here are some examples:

  • Transportation: Low friction is crucial for efficient and safe transportation. The wheels of vehicles, such as cars, trains, and bicycles, are designed to have low friction to reduce the amount of energy required to move them and to ensure smooth movement.
  • Sports: Low friction is important in many sports, such as ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding, where smooth surfaces are required for efficient movement and reduced resistance.
  • Manufacturing: Low friction plays a significant role in manufacturing processes, such as metalworking and machining, where lubricants are used to reduce friction and wear on machinery and to improve the quality of the products being manufactured.
  • Household appliances: Low friction is important in many household appliances, such as blenders and food processors, where bearings and other parts are designed to have low friction to ensure efficient and smooth operation.
  • Medical devices: Low friction is critical in many medical devices, such as catheters and stents, where smooth surfaces are necessary to reduce the risk of tissue damage and to ensure smooth movement within the body.
  • Electronics: Low friction is important in electronics, such as hard disk drives, where low friction coatings and lubricants are used to reduce wear and tear and to ensure smooth and efficient operation.
Overall, low friction is essential for efficient and smooth movement in a wide range of applications, from transportation to manufacturing to daily household items, making our lives easier and more comfortable.