Schematic illustration of Friction Force Microscopy (FFM). The AFM cantilever, a small diving board-like structure about 200 micrometers long, 50 micrometers wide, and 1 micrometer thick, has a sharp ...

Although humans have been harnessing its power since rubbing two sticks together to build the first fire, the physics of friction remain largely in the dark. Now, Brandeis research is showing that ...

ETH Zurich scientists measure rolling friction in micrometer-sized particles, enhancing understanding of suspensions in ...

What we do know is that macroscopic friction often depends sensitively on microscopic molecular details ... For example, measurements of the force required to drag the aluminium tip of a scanning ...