- #1
Miguell
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hi everyone! I'm new here. I was wondering how energy can be lost to friction? How would one even calculate that? Thanks!
How can energy be lost to friction?
- Context: High School
- Thread starter Miguell
- Start date
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Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the concept of energy loss due to friction, exploring how energy is transformed during frictional interactions and the methods for calculating this energy loss. Participants inquire about the forms of energy involved and seek clarification on the underlying principles.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- One participant questions how energy can be lost to friction and seeks methods for calculation.
- Another participant asks about the form of energy present before a car skids to a stop and whether that energy is lost during the skid.
- A different participant provides an example of kinetic energy loss when sliding a box along the ground, suggesting it is an obvious case of energy loss due to friction.
- One participant mentions that the calculation involves the difference in work done by the friction forces, referencing the third law of motion.
- Another participant notes that energy lost to friction is converted into heat energy, citing personal experiences with warm brakes and friction between hands and surfaces.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express various viewpoints on the nature of energy loss due to friction, with no consensus reached on specific calculations or the forms of energy involved.
Contextual Notes
Some assumptions regarding the definitions of energy forms and the conditions under which friction occurs are not fully articulated, leaving room for interpretation.
- #2
jbriggs444
Science Advisor
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If a car skids to a stop, what form of energy exists beforehand? Is energy in that form lost during the skid?Miguell said:
- #3
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Can you explain what is puzzling you? If you slide a box along the ground, any kinetic energy is rapidly lost. That seems an obvious example.Miguell said:
- #4
A.T.
Science Advisor
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It's the difference in work done by the 3rd law pair of friction forces.Miguell said:
- #5
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I'm sure you have experienced it yourself. Energy lost to friction turns into heat energy. Have you not felt the brakes on vehicles get warm? Or felt you palm get warm when you rub it on a rough surface?
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