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Adapted from HowStuffWorks.com
The bearing makes many of the machines we use every day possible. Without bearings we would constantly be replacing parts that wear out from friction. Objects roll more easily than they slide. The wheels on your car are like big bearings. If you had something like skis instead of wheels, your car would be much more difficult to push down the road.
When objects slide, friction between them causes a force that tends to slow them down. But if the two surfaces can roll over each other, friction is greatly reduced.
Bearings reduce friction by providing smooth balls or rollers, and smooth inner and outer surfaces for the balls to roll against. These balls or rollers "bear" the load, allowing the device to spin smoothly.
Bearing loads
Bearings typically experience two kinds of loading - radial and thrust. Depending on where the bearing is used, it may see radial loading, thrust loading, or a combination of both.
The...