The Physics
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Opus in profectus

Friction

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Discussion

The force between surfaces in contact that resists their relative tangential motion (slipping).

Types: static & kinetic

Classical Approximations

f ≤ μN

fs ≤ μsN

fk = μkN

microscopic description

miscellaneous stuff

Coefficients of friction for selected interfaces (in order of generally decreasing value)
μs μk interface
1.16 rubber - rubber
1.02 rubber - concrete
0.84–0.98 0.72 car tire - asphalt
0.35 car tire - grass
0.78–1.00 skin - metals
0.9–1.0 glass - glass
0.9 sheep - steel mesh
0.7 sheep - plastic batten (⊥)
0.6 sheep - plastic batten (∥)
0.6 sheep - wood batten (⊥)
0.5 sheep - wood batten (∥)
0.68 0.67 horseshoe - rubber
0.48 0.47 horseshoe - concrete
0.44 0.42 horseshoe - asphalt
0.42 0.38 horseshoe - cobblestone
0.58 steel - steel
0.40 brake pads - cast iron
0.30–0.70 iron - stone
0.62 wood - concrete
0.6 wood - brick
0.40 wood - stone
0.2–0.6 wood - metals
0.29 0.22 wood - felt
0.28 0.17 wood - wood
0.56 leather - metals
0.27–0.38 leather - wood
0.225 tangerine peel - linoleum floor
0.125 apple peel - linoleum floor
0.066 banana peel - linoleum floor
0.3 snow - nylon
0.04–0.4 0.04–0.4 snow - hickory, waxed
0.1 graphite - graphite
0.1 graphite - steel
  0.1716 teflon - one dollar bill
  0.1563 teflon - 10,000 won note
  0.1078 teflon - ten euro note
0.05–0.08 teflon - steel
0.32–0.36 teflon - teflon (189 cm/s)
0.05–0.08 teflon - teflon (1.1 cm/s)
0.03 ice - steel
0.05–0.5 0.02–0.09 ice - ice
0.00440.0057 cartillage - synovial fluid
0.0013 tendon - sheath