G5 – Friction: Good or Evil Lower_Level – 03
Too much friction can be harmful. In car engines, friction is not good. Too much friction between the parts of the engine makes the parts wear out quickly. Oil is used in a car’s engine to reduce the amount of friction. So, except for instances such as falling off a bike and car parts that wear out, friction is not bad. In many cases, it is very useful.
Friction can be either bad or good based on the situation. Sometimes friction opposes motion, but at other times, it enables it. If not for friction, we could not walk up a hill. Too much friction and car engines would not work, and bicycle wheels would not roll. So, the next time you fall and get a road rash, do not blame friction. To live with friction, we need to understand how to eliminate it when necessary and embrace it when it is helpful.