Given the materials friction is almost solely the result of weight (or normal force). On an inclined plane this is dependent on the angle; the steeper the angle the lesser the friction. At 52 degrees there is little friction and at 71 degrees there is almost no friction. One of the major advantages of not dragging stones on ramps like savages is that the surfaces can be greased so total friction is inconsequential. Combine this with the other huge efficiencies and total efficiency can be many multiples higher. In other words it could have taken as little as 2% of the total work that would have been expended if ramps had been used. The scope of the pyramid could have been decreased 50 fold. If they had water most of this tiny amount of work would have done by water rather than humans.

Humans might have done well under 1% as much work to lift these stones than Egyptologists believe.