What is Lubrication?
[[File:Steam engine lubrication.jpg|thumb|Lubrication of the ship [[steam engine]] [[crankshaft]]. The two bottles of lubricant are attached to the piston and move while the engine is operating.]] '''Lubrication''' is a [[physics|physical]] [[process]] which allows [[surface]]s to move smoothly against each other. A thin film of lubricant put between the surfaces reduces [[friction]] and [[wear (erosion)|wear]] on the surfaces, and keeps temperatures from rising too far. The lubricant film can be a solid/[[liquid]] [[dispersion]], a liquid, a liquid-liquid dispersion (a [[Petroleum|grease]]) or, exceptionally, a [[solid]] or gas. Examples are the use of [[oil]] in [[machinery]], the function of [[tears]] in [[eyes]] and [[synovial fluid]] in [[joint]]s. == Related pages == *[[Lubricant]] [[Category:Mechanics]]