What is the true cause of friction?

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Friction occurs even between flat surfaces due to the atomic interactions at play, primarily the Van der Waals forces. These forces arise from the repulsion between atoms when they come into close proximity, preventing smooth movement. Even perfectly flat materials have microscopic irregularities that contribute to friction. This atomic-level interaction is fundamental to understanding why friction exists, similar to the reason solid objects cannot pass through each other. Ultimately, the presence of these repulsive forces is a key factor in the phenomenon of friction.
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I know that most friction is caused from rough uneven surfaces rubbing each other, but what is the cause of friction between 2 flat surfaces?
 
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ARC123 said:
I know that most friction is caused from rough uneven surfaces rubbing each other, but what is the cause of friction between 2 flat surfaces?

I know that at least some of friction is due to the Van der Waals force between nearby atoms. That is the force that geckos use to climb walls.
 
It's from the atoms repelling each other due to the forces present in their atomic structure. The reason we have friction is the same reason we can't just walk through walls. No matter how thin or perfectly flat a material is, there will be friction due to those repulsive forces acting on each surface.
 

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