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Disc brakes work because you can use a much bigger lever to apply the frictional force - the pads can be set closer to the rotating surface, you can set the fulcrum closer, you can use a longer brake lever, you can use bigger pads etc...
It's our Greek friend all over again.
As Greenbank mentions, the force needed to slow the rotation of the wheel is negligible in comparison to the force required to slow the whole system.
NotThamesWater
Oliver Schick
Yes. Also it's rotating faster. And since the weight of the system the brake has to stop is the same, the same rim brake would feel weaker on a bike with significantly smaller wheels.
That makes sense.
Solution: disc brake ALL the things.