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| By Penubag (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
We've been learning about forces this semester. Often, we treat surfaces as "frictionless" to simplify calculations. When we talk about machines, we sometimes "neglect friction" and assume the machines are ideal. By doing these things, it's easy to associate friction with something bad. It is true that there are many situations where friction is not desired, and engineers usually take steps to reduce friction in their designs.
However, that's not the whole story. Sometimes friction in desired. What examples or applications can you think of where friction is "the good guy"? Post your ideas in the comments section.
