If the cart wheels roll without slipping there is no kinetic frictional force be

Question

If the cart wheels roll without slipping there is no kinetic frictional force between the wheels and the plan. This is because the surfaces on the turning wheel actually move perpendicular to the plan instead of sliding along it as the cart so there is static friction between the wheels and the plane . There is also kinetic friction between the wheels and the shaft of the cart.

1) Last week you pulled a box up the inclined plane. This week you pulled a cart with wheels up and down the same plane, in which case do you think you lost more energy to friction? Explain.

2) What would happen if there were no friction between the wheels and the inclined plan?

3) Why was the wheel a great invention?

Explanation / Answer

When a wheel rolls without slipping there may be a frictional force of the surface on
the wheel. If so, it is a force of static friction (which does no work) and depending on the
situation it could point in the same direction or opposite the motion of the center of mass;
in all cases it tends to oppose the tendency of the wheel to slide.

1)

pulling a box up and down an incliend loss more energy compared to wheel as box has greater surface area in contact with the incliend surface compared to the wheel so more energy is lost to the the friction.

2)

if there is no friction then object moves faster and faster with time i.e. is it accelerates.

3)

The invention of the wheel was at the root of the Industrial Revolution, although it would take a long time to get there as wheels are not only used to transport but also make machines parts like pully, coupling etc.

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