Revisiting the coefficient of rolling resistance: a phenomenological approach

Abstract Rolling resistance is a subtle topic that remains underrepresented in physics education. While sliding (kinetic) resistance is routinely covered, rolling resistance introduces conceptual challenges such as multiple competing definitions, unclear mechanisms of energy dissipation, and ambiguous roles of static friction. This paper reviews traditional definitions, highlights their inconsistencies, and proposes a pedagogically useful, phenomenological definition of the coefficient of rolling resistance based on the principle of energy conservation. This approach parallels the definition of kinetic friction, avoids reliance on microscopic models, and supports undergraduate instruction with a unified framework for dissipative forces.