A Ball Rolling : What forces are involved?

[JerryClower]

Let's say that a basketball was rolling on a road. A completely level road. A road that wasn't downhill or uphill, just straight. So, as its rolling, what forces are working against it? I'm thinking of 3. Gravity and friction. Also wind resistance. Am I correct? Would the wind resistance be an example of inertia?

 

[russ_watters]

Also rolling resistance, which is energy dissipated by deformation of the ball.

 

[mrsobhan]

you must also account for normal force that exerts from the ground on the ball

 

[russ_watters]

The normal force is not working against the rolling.

 

[torquil]

Also rolling resistance, which is energy dissipated by deformation of the ball.

I think it is natural to decompose this into two parts:

1) Energy dissipated because of the overall shape deformation of the ball.

2) Energy used to brake the microscopic contact bond between the ball and the ground.

Torquil