gs1medium
Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc. because
- A.The actual area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
- B.The effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
- C.The effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is reduced
- D.None of the statements is correct
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: C. The effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is reduced
Ball bearings work by replacing sliding friction with rolling friction. Rolling friction is significantly less than sliding friction. By using ball bearings, the point of contact between the moving parts is reduced to a series of small points, thereby minimizing the effective area of contact and reducing the resistance to motion.
Source: UPSC gs1 2013