Rolling Friction: Does Work Occur on Rolling Objects?

AI Thread Summary
Friction does not perform work on an object that rolls without slipping, as the point of contact remains stationary, leading to no energy change. Static friction is present in pure rolling but does not contribute to work done. Rolling friction, associated with surface deformation, is typically less than kinetic friction and is often overlooked in basic physics problems. When rolling friction is ignored, mechanical energy is conserved during the motion. Thus, for ideal rolling without slipping, mechanical energy conservation holds true.
ashishsinghal
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Does friction does any work on an object purely rolling? Would mechanical energy be always conserved when when an object rolls?
I feel that friction does no work as the point of contact never moves. So there will be no change in energy.
Am I having conceptual error?
 
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For something rolling without slipping, there may be static friction, which does no work. However rolling friction is something else entirely. That has to do with deformation of the surfaces and is usually smaller than kinetic friction. Often it's ignored in elementary problems.
 
So mechanical energy would be conserved right?
 
ashishsinghal said:
So mechanical energy would be conserved right?
If you ignore rolling friction, yes.
 

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