Friction

[Dan Squire]

Stephen Birkett(Fortepianos)wrote:

>An intuitive explanation of this may be had by thinking of the
>molecular forces which cause friction. Consider static friction,
>which applies when there is no relative motion between 2 surfaces. On
>a very small scale the surfaces appear very bumpy and where the bumps
>coincide the contact area is `cold-welded'. It is these bonds which
>must be broken to break the frictional contact between the surfaces.
>The minimum force required to break these bonds is independent of
>how many there are i.e. the surface area of contact. [Intuitive
>reasoning only here as requested.]
>
Thanks for the insight you have provided here.  It opens my eyes, and now I
can see the utility.  I had never thought of it in this context before.  I
stand corrected and enlightened.

Respectfully,
Dan Squire
University of Houston

Rigor is no foe of simplicity.
                        - Otto Blumenthal