Is Friction Caused by Electron Repulsion in Collisions?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter AzonicZeniths
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Friction
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
Sign up Log in
6 replies · 3K views
AzonicZeniths
Messages
68
Reaction score
0
I was just wondering, because on an atomic scale, nothing ever touches due to electron repulsion, why is there friction?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Friction forces occur at larger scale, not that tiny.
 
Even when not touching, there are still forces (electromagnetic) between objects. It isn't like every surface is a mag-lev train - surface defects mean the forces aren't perpendicular to the direction of motion.
 
Ok I now understand that this the forces aren't perpendicular, but why would this produce heat? Where is the energy being released?
 
russ_watters said:
perfectly elastic.

Sorry I'm being stupid right now but, what do you mean by that?
 
AzonicZeniths said:
Sorry I'm being stupid right now but, what do you mean by that?

a perfectly elastic collision is one in which kinetic energy is conserved.
 

Similar threads

High School About actually touching something and sound made by collision
  • rudransh verma
  • · Replies 10 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
10
High School Simple forces described in terms of fundamental forces
  • SamRoss
  • · Replies 1 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
1
High School Questions about momentum and force as well as normal force/friction
  • cardboard_box
  • · Replies 35 ·
  • Mechanics
2
Replies
35
Undergrad How does friction in a pipe occur, with the "no slip condition" ?
  • lost captain
  • · Replies 25 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
25
Undergrad I never fully understood gyroscopic precession - toppling gyroscopes
  • AronYstad
  • · Replies 10 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
10
High School Rolling Without Slipping on an Inclined Plane
  • Heisenberg7
  • · Replies 5 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
5
Undergrad Friction of a rolling cylinder on an incline
  • Chenkel
  • · Replies 37 ·
  • Mechanics
2
Replies
37
Undergrad Solving for Angular Velocity After a Disc Collision
  • daavid
  • · Replies 13 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
13
Undergrad Rolling Without Slipping
  • erobz
  • · Replies 59 ·
  • Mechanics
2
Replies
59
Undergrad I would like a better understanding of friction and hysteresis
  • fog37
  • · Replies 5 ·
  • Mechanics
Replies
5