Comments on the energetics of the frictional process
I would like to ask what in Dr Bowden’s picture is the mechanism by which the free energy is transformed into heat ? If I understood him rightly, the free energy is needed for the breaking of bonds, but this does not produce heat. Could he tell us a little more about this ? Also I would like to know whether exact measurements have ever been made on the process of dry external friction to show what percentage of the energy is transformed into heat and what turns up in the form of potential energy stored in deformation of the material. A final question which may have some connexion with the first one: if the formation and breaking up of the bonds is the main process consuming energy, how does it come about that rolling friction is so much smaller than gliding friction ?