Rub two sticks together fast enough and you will end up with a fiery demonstration of friction in action. It might seem elementary, but the forces of friction can come with destructive consequences.

Friction causes energy losses that create unwanted heat, deformation, and wear. These unwanted bi-products increase the costs of the products you design while reducing their lifespan.

Friction, however, isn’t altogether destructive. It also helps us move around. Consider how the tires of a sports car grip the road, for instance.

There are a variety of strategies for minimizing and reducing unwanted friction, including:

• Switching material types
• Using lubricants
• Adding wheels or bearings
• Using magnetics or acoustics to keep objects apart

In short, friction affects every object on the planet in one way or another. With a thorough understanding how friction works, you can create more efficient designs that reduce friction and conserve energy—while maintaining the benefits when they’re needed.

To understand more about reducing friction in your designs, watch this new video on the Sustainability Workshop. http://bit.ly/rR2gtt

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