Abstract: Surface testing friction apparatus comprises a trolley and an inclined ramp. The trolley and ramp are arranged such that a slider on the trolley comes into contact with the surface during a test run over a surface, the friction coefficient of which is to be determined, the mass of the trolley length and a height of the ramp are selected such that for a slider of given properties, materials and dimensions the critical film thickness for a wet surface is approximately 2 ?m.