10 Examples of Sliding Friction in Daily Life

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Wanna know what are some examples of sliding friction in daily life? If yes, then you are at the right place at the very right time. Because, today, in this exclusive article, I am gonna unearth some of the everyday life examples of sliding friction you definitely don’t wanna miss…!!!

So, what is sliding friction anyway? Sliding friction is a type of frictional force that opposes the motion between two surfaces when they are sliding against each other. To know more about the way how sliding friction affects our day-to-day life, let’s dive right in…!!!

Sliding Friction Examples in Daily Life

  • Sliding a Book Across a Table
  • Brakes on a Car
  • Skating on Ice
  • Sandpaper
  • Using a Computer Mouse
  • Sliding Window

Sliding a Book Across a Table

sliding-book-across-table
Image Source: Picture Physics

The very first one in my list of top 10 examples of sliding friction in daily life is sliding a book across a table. When you slide a book across the table, you feel resistance as the book slides against the table. In other words, there is (sliding) friction between the book and the table.

This is what forces or allows the book to come to rest when you stop pushing it. This resistance occurs due to the presence of sliding friction between the book and the table.

Brakes on a Car

application-of-brake-on-a-car
Image Source: Bryan’s Garage

Everyone knows how to drive a car. Then one should also know that there is a braking system that helps you to stop or slow the car whenever you want.

When you press the brake on a car, the brake pad creates pressure against the wheels of the car which in turn creates sliding friction. This application of sliding friction helps you to slow or stop the car.

Skating on Ice

ice-skating-example-of-sliding-friction
Image Source: Thrillophilia

Personally, I have never done skating in my life, perhaps, you would have. I am hoping that one day I could. So, when you skate on the ice, there is a creation of sliding friction between your shoes and the ice surface. This in turn helps you, or your blade to find the necessary traction for you to skate.

Sandpaper

sandpaper-sliding-friction-example
Image Source: The Home Depot

Whether you have to remove old paint from something, want to make a smoother surface, or even wanna make a surface rougher, what you need is sandpaper. And, to do that, what you need is an application of sliding friction.

When you rub or slide the sandpaper over the surface to make it smooth or rougher, an opposing force or sliding friction is created between them which in turn polish or remove unwanted material from the surface.

Laptop Touchpad

laptop-touchpad
Image Source: Windows Report

Yup, you heard me right…!!! When you use your laptop’s touchpad, there is a sliding friction between your finger and the touchpad. This sliding friction helps you to control the movement of the mouse cursor on your laptop screen.

Sliding Window

sliding-window
Image Source: Youtube

Last but not least one in my list of Sliding friction examples in daily life is the working of a sliding window. A sliding window uses sliding friction to move along its track. When you slide the window on its track, what you feel is some resistance or some opposing force.

This opposing is nothing but the sliding friction that occurs between the window and the track, which in turn helps to keep the window in place and prevent it from sliding too fast or too slow.

Some Other Sliding Friction Examples in Daily Life

Apart from the above-mentioned ones, I am also mentioning a few here.

  • Pushing a box
  • Rubbing our hands together
  • Pushing a dresser
  • Sliding on a playground slide
  • Sliding a chair on the floor
  • Using a pencil eraser
  • Using a shopping cart, etc.

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I am a mechanical engineer by profession. Just because of my love for fundamental physics, I switched my career, and therefore I did my postgraduate degree in physics. Right now I am a loner (as ever) and a Physics blogger too. My sole future goal is to do a Ph.D. in theoretical physics, especially in the field of cosmology. Because in my view, every aspect of physics comes within the range of cosmology. And I love traveling, especially the Sole one.

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