Significance and Use Rolling friction like sliding friction
depends upon many factors. It is a system effect that involves
the nature of the rolling surface and the counterface. The
sliding friction force (F) is usually considered to be the sum
of forces arising from deformations of surface features (Fs),
from attractive forces (atomic, molecular, etc.) at contact
points (Fa) and force from interaction of films and particulates
on the rubbing surfaces (Ff): The rolling friction force
includes these force contributions plus effects from the
relative stiffness of the contacting surfaces, the diameter
(curvature) of the spherical shape (ball, orange, etc.) and
other factors. Because there are so many factors involved in a
rolling tribosystem, rolling resistance can best be quantified
by an actual test of the sphere of interest on the intended
counterface, as in this test method. There are countless
applications where it is important to quantify the rolling
characteristics of a particular spherical shape on a par