Difference Between Sliding and Rolling Friction

Main Difference – Sliding vs. Rolling Friction

Sliding friction and rolling friction are both types of resistive forces that oppose an object’s motion along a surface. The main difference between sliding and rolling friction is that the sliding friction occurs when one surface is rubbing against another surface, whereas rolling friction occurs when an object is rolling on another surface.

What is Sliding Friction

Sliding friction (kinetic friction) is the force of friction between two surfaces which are rubbing against each other. Sliding friction is a consequence of having small protrusions on a surface. Whenever the two surfaces are moving against each other, the protrusions interlock and work needs to be done to keep the objects in motion.

Sliding friction $f_k$ between two surfaces is given by:

$f_k=\mu_kn$

Where $\mu_k$ stands for the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two surfaces, and $n$ is the normal contact force between the surfaces.

What is Rolling Friction

Rolling friction occurs when the surface of one body is rolling against the surface of another body. The origin of this force is the deformations that occur on the surfaces as rolling occurs. Hysterisis is a main contributor: the energy given out when the surfaces recover their shape after a deformation is less than the energy that went in to create those deformations in the first place.

Analysing rolling friction is more complicated than analysing sliding friction. However, using a coefficient of rolling friction $mu_r$ such that rolling friction $f_r$ is given by

$f_r=\mu_rn$

where $n$ once again stands for the normal contact force. Writing down rolling friction in this form is helpful in comparing it with sliding friction. It is found that the rolling friction is much smaller compared to sliding friction. For instance, the coefficient of sliding friction between dry asphalt and rubber is 0.68 ^[1] while the coefficient of rolling resistance for a tyre on a road is in the range 0.01-0.035 ^[2]. However, this form of the equation is rather deceptive. In actuality, the “coefficient” depends on a number of other factors. For instance, for a tyre rolling on a road the coefficient changes with the radius of the tyre and how “full” the tyre is.

Difference Between Sliding and Rolling Friction – Rolling friction becomes important when riding a bike through sand