  We consider the Prandtl-Tomlinson model in the case of a constant driving
force and in the presence of thermal fluctuations. We show that the system
dynamics is well reproduced by a simplified description obtained through a
Markov process, even in the case of potentials with several minima. After
estimating the chain parameters by numerical simulation, we compute the average
velocity and friction at varying driving force and temperature. Then we take
advantage of this approach for calculating the entropy produced by the system
and, in the case of a single minimum potential, to derive its explicit relation
with the external force and the mobility at low temperatures. We observe that
the coefficient relating the entropy production to the force is not a monotonic
function of the temperature.
