One of the most common forces which can act upon an object is friction. Whenever an object moves or tries to move, friction is present. Friction is a force which opposes motion.
On some occasions friction can prove very useful. For example, when you walk or run, you push yourself forward by pushing backwards on the ground. Friction between your foot and the floor helps you to do this. If there was no friction, i.e. like on a slippery ice rink, your feet would slip!
Smooth surfaces reduce the friction between objects while rough surfaces increase the frictional forces. Trainers and football boots are designed to prevent your foot from slipping by increasing the frictional forces between you and the ground. In contrast, skates and skis are designed with smooth surfaces which keep friction to a minimum.
Where there is contact between surfaces, friction can be reduced using a lubricant such as oil, friction between two surfaces can cause the surfaces to wear away and become hot.
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