Home
Back
Rolling Resistance Formula:
| From: | To: |
Rolling resistance is the force that opposes the motion when a body (such as a wheel) rolls on a surface. It is caused by the deformation of the wheel, the deformation of the surface, or both. This resistance must be overcome to maintain rolling motion.
The calculator uses the rolling resistance formula:
Where:
Explanation: The coefficient of rolling resistance depends on the materials in contact and the design of the wheel. Lower values indicate less resistance.
Details: Calculating rolling resistance is essential in vehicle design, transportation engineering, and energy efficiency studies. It helps determine the force needed to move vehicles, the energy consumption, and the overall performance of wheeled systems.
Tips: Enter the coefficient of rolling resistance (typically between 0.001 and 0.05 for most applications) and the mass of the object in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What are typical values for the coefficient of rolling resistance?
A: For car tires on concrete: 0.01-0.015; for bicycle tires: 0.002-0.005; for train wheels on steel rails: 0.0002-0.001.
Q2: How does tire pressure affect rolling resistance?
A: Higher tire pressure generally reduces rolling resistance by minimizing tire deformation, while lower pressure increases resistance.
Q3: Is rolling resistance the same as friction?
A: No, rolling resistance is different from sliding friction. It's primarily caused by energy loss due to deformation of materials rather than surface adhesion.
Q4: How does surface type affect rolling resistance?
A: Softer surfaces (like sand) create higher rolling resistance than hard surfaces (like concrete) due to greater deformation.
Q5: Why is rolling resistance important for electric vehicles?
A: Reducing rolling resistance directly improves the range of electric vehicles by requiring less energy to maintain motion.