Can String Theory Explain the Role of Friction in Everyday Operations on Earth?

[denisaf]

Various types of friction operate in all relative motion of materials. Boundary layers in the flow over on wings, Fatigue in metals subject the oscillatory bending. Friction between a car tire and the road. these are just some examples of the holistic impact on operations here on Earth. Does string theory explain that physical principle?

 

[Vanadium 50]

No. Friction is an atomic/molecular level effect.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Does string theory explain that physical principle?

String theory is a possible explanation for the way fundamental particles behave. So there is a sort of long rambling path of arguments that relates friction and any other classical phenomenon to strings. But that path would still involve the intermediate step of classical / QM description. Such a treatment wouldn't really be worth using because of the vast numbers involved and would require approximations in the process. Classical mechanics is an approximation that works very well so that would always (probably) be the best approach, rather than some alternative. The connection is too remote.

 

[Dale]

@denisaf you are looking for statistical mechanics, not string theory.