For 200 Years We Were Wrong About Why Water Ice Is Slippery
New Study Challenges 200 Years of Physics on Why Ice Is Slippery
Discover the groundbreaking molecular science that may overturn two centuries of common explanations for ice slipperiness. This research details a previously unconsidered mechanism occurring at the atomic level, even in deep cold.
Short Summary
- The established theories of pressure melting and frictional heating fail to adequately explain ice slipperiness under very cold conditions.
- New molecular simulations point to "cold displacement-driven amorphisation" as the primary mechanism for surface lubrication.
- This process involves molecular dipoles disrupting the ice crystal structure, creating a liquid-like amorphous layer without traditional melting or high pressure.
- Surface characteristics, like hydrophobia, significantly influence the friction coefficient of this new amorphous layer.
This discussion explores a recent study that profoundly questions long-held beliefs about why ice slides easily. It contrasts the old models (pressure/heat) against new atomic-level findings using molecular computer simulations. Understanding this new model reveals the complex science behind everyday phenomena like skating or dropping an ice cube.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Unlock all features
FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.
Related videos
Bizarre Discovery in NYC Cemetery Rewrites What We Know About Bees
Anton Petrov
103.5k views
The Longest Burning Fire on Planet Earth Is Thousands of Years Old
Anton Petrov
59.8k views
Sun’s Missing 6500 Twins Prove We Migrated 10,000 Light-Years
Anton Petrov
77.2k views
We Were Wrong About the Human Appendix For Over 150 Years
Anton Petrov
120.7k views
Is One of the Largest Known Stars About to Explode?
Anton Petrov
33.6k views
Study Suggests We Were Wrong About Einstein's Wormhole Idea
Anton Petrov
102.4k views
The Universe Is Forming Faster Than We Thought Possible
Anton Petrov
17.0k views
SETI@Home Has Finally Been Completed After 27 Years, Here's What Was Found
Anton Petrov
7.6k views
We Were Wrong About Cat Domestication and How Cats Spread Around the World
Anton Petrov
141.4k views
Bizarre Discoveries About Evolution of Dogs in the Last 50,000 Years
Anton Petrov
9.4k views
Top Comments (10)
I was always suspicious of the melt hypothesis but questioning it would put you on thin ice
This is great; it's good to look at common phenomena. There must be a lot of other assumptions that we're currently wrong about.
Water is such a crazy substance, it has so many unique properties.
Next Week: Scientists discover that water isn't as wet as we thought.
I have never really been comfortable with the old explanation, so it's very pleasing to hear this one.
This has potentially big practical impact. For example on how winter tires are designed.
Very big year in physics, first we derive the mechanism for stirring, now we discover the mechanism of slipping on ice. I wonder what will happen next.
Once again, a glib statement by my high school chemistry teacher is the underlying explanation: “It’s all about the electrons. They’re in charge of everything.”
I seem to recall that Feynman, in 'Magnets' (1983 BBC series Fun to Imagine), caveated the pressure melting explanation with "...so they say..."...
Pressure and phase transitions are bulk properties so we can't say the top layer turns into a liquid even though it has liquid-like properties.
Unlock the Data Inside
Turn Videos into Knowledge
- Get FREE 10/day: transcripts, summaries, chats
- Chat with videos, export text & PDF
- $1 free API credit for RAG, chatbots & research
Free forever plan • All features unlocked
Top Comments (10)
I was always suspicious of the melt hypothesis but questioning it would put you on thin ice
This is great; it's good to look at common phenomena. There must be a lot of other assumptions that we're currently wrong about.
Water is such a crazy substance, it has so many unique properties.
Next Week: Scientists discover that water isn't as wet as we thought.
I have never really been comfortable with the old explanation, so it's very pleasing to hear this one.
This has potentially big practical impact. For example on how winter tires are designed.
Very big year in physics, first we derive the mechanism for stirring, now we discover the mechanism of slipping on ice. I wonder what will happen next.
Once again, a glib statement by my high school chemistry teacher is the underlying explanation: “It’s all about the electrons. They’re in charge of everything.”
I seem to recall that Feynman, in 'Magnets' (1983 BBC series Fun to Imagine), caveated the pressure melting explanation with "...so they say..."...
Pressure and phase transitions are bulk properties so we can't say the top layer turns into a liquid even though it has liquid-like properties.