Why Is Ice So Slippery? The Science Behind Skating
Ice is remarkably slippery, but why? Even after more than 150 years of research, the physics behind this everyday phenomenon has remained surprisingly difficult to
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Friction and Interfaces
Friction is everywhere. It allows us to walk, grip objects, and control movement, yet reducing friction is equally important for improving energy efficiency and preventing material wear.
Despite its importance, friction remains difficult to predict. Its origins lie in microscopic interactions between surfaces, where tiny contact regions determine how materials slide against one another.
Today, our research builds on these early discoveries using advanced fluorescence microscopy to visualize the real contact area between solid surfaces and uncover the physical mechanisms governing friction ( Suhina et al., 2015 ).
Research domains
Capillary friction
How does humidity influence friction between solid surfaces? One important mechanism is capillary adhesion, where tiny liquid bridges form between contacting surfaces and influence how
Static friction
What happens at the microscopic level when two surfaces begin to slide? The transition from static to dynamic friction plays a crucial role in everything