friction

People, trucks and even military tanks have tried and failed the task of pulling apart two phone books lying face up with their pages interleaved, like a shuffled deck of cards.

Here’s the rub with friction: scientists don’t really know how it works. Sure, humans have been harnessing the power of friction since rubbing two sticks together to build a fire, but the physics of friction remains largely in the dark.

People, trucks and even military tanks have tried and failed the task of pulling apart two phone books lying face up with their pages interleaved, like a shuffled deck of cards.

Here’s the rub with friction: scientists don’t really know how it works. Sure, humans have been harnessing the power of friction since rubbing two sticks together to build a fire, but the physics of friction remains largely in the dark.