Friction and heating – atoms at the contact surface

Integrated ScienceEnergyAges 11–12

Drag a block across a tabletop, then zoom in to the atomic scale to see the contact surface heat up as the surfaces rub together. Change the normal force and the surface roughness to see how the friction force and the rate of heating change; the atoms vibrate harder, change color with temperature and can break away from the surface if it gets too hot. Stop dragging and it gradually cools, or press "Cool down" to return to the starting state. Based on the "Friction" simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder (CC BY 4.0); rewritten.

Lesson: Friction