Why Is Ice Slippery? A New Hypothesis Slides into the Chat
2 days ago
- #slipperiness
- #physics
- #ice
- Ice is slippery due to a thin watery layer on its surface, but the reason for this layer's formation is debated.
- Three main theories have been proposed: pressure melting, frictional heating, and surface premelting.
- A fourth hypothesis suggests that ice's slipperiness comes from mechanical amorphization of its surface layer.
- Recent simulations and experiments support the idea that structural changes, not just melting, cause slipperiness.
- Researchers still lack a consensus, partly due to differing terminologies and interpretations of the same phenomena.