Question

If you need a machine to run as fast as possible, what physical change should you make to the surfaces that touch each other to lower the friction?

Accepted Answer

To make a machine run faster, you should make the touching surfaces smoother or add a lubricant. Surfaces that look smooth to your eye are actually covered in tiny bumps and pits that catch on each other like teeth on a zipper. This catching is called friction, which creates resistance and slows down moving parts. When you polish the parts, you flatten these microscopic bumps so they slide past each other more easily. Adding a lubricant, which is a slippery liquid like oil or grease, is even better. The oil fills in all those tiny gaps and creates a thin, slick layer that keeps the two metal parts from ever actually touching. It is like putting a layer of water on a floor to make it a slide instead of a surface you have to walk on.

If you need a machine to run as fast as possible, what physical change should you make to the surfaces that touch each other to lower the friction?

To make a machine run faster, you should make the touching surfaces smoother or add a lubricant. Surfaces that look smooth to your eye are actually covered in tiny bumps and pits that catch on each other like teeth on a zi....

Community Answers

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If you need a machine to run as fast as possible, what physical change should you make to the surfaces that touch each other to lower the friction?

To make a machine run faster, you should make the touching surfaces smoother or add a lubricant. Surfaces that look smooth to your eye are actually covered in tiny bumps and pits that catch on each other like teeth on a zi....

Community Answers