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Frictional Force

Frictional Force

When a body is in motion, it encounters resistance because the body interacts with its surroundings. This resistance is known as friction, a common yet complex force whose behavior is still not completely understood. Friction opposes relative motion between systems in contact, but also allows us to move. Friction arises in part due to the roughness of surfaces in contact. For one object to move along a surface, it must rise to where the peaks of the surface can skip along the bottom of the...

Characteristics of Dry Friction

Characteristics of Dry Friction

Dry friction occurs when two solid surfaces slide against each other without any lubrication or fluid present. It causes resistance when pushing objects along a surface, like a gardener pushing a wheelbarrow. The force applied to move the cart causes dry friction between the wheel and the ground.
Before the wheelbarrow starts moving, the static frictional force acts tangentially to the contact surface, opposing the force that is about to induce the motion. This frictional force prevents the...

Types of Friction Problems

Types of Friction Problems

Friction is an essential concept in physics, engineering, and everyday life. It is the force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion between two surfaces in contact. One of the most common types of friction encountered in various applications is dry friction. Dry friction problems can be broadly categorized into three types, each with unique characteristics and challenges.
The first type of dry friction problem involves situations where there is no apparent impending motion.

Static and Kinetic Frictional Force

Static and Kinetic Frictional Force

One of the simpler characteristics of sliding friction is that it is parallel to the contact surfaces between systems, and is always in a direction that opposes the motion or attempted motion of the systems relative to each other. If two systems are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction. For example, kinetic friction slows a hockey puck sliding on ice.
However, if two systems are in contact and are stationary relative to one...

Static Friction

Static Friction

Static friction is a force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of motion between two surfaces in contact. It plays a crucial role in our daily lives, from walking on the ground to driving a car.
For example, consider a scenario where a truck is connected to a car by a rope, ready to tow it along a road. When no external force is applied by the truck, the car remains stationary and is said to be in static equilibrium. In this case, the forces acting on the car, such as gravity and the...

Kinetic Friction

Kinetic Friction

Consider a truck trying to pull a stationary car. As the truck exerts a force on the car, static friction is created at the point of contact between the two surfaces. This frictional force resists the car's movement and keeps it at rest. However, when the applied force by the truck surpasses the limiting static frictional force, an interesting phenomenon occurs. The frictional force at the interface reduces to a lower value, known as the kinetic frictional force. At this point, the car begins...

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Related Experiment Video

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Residue-Free Fabrication of van der Waals Heterostructures of Two-Dimensional Materials

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Published on: July 18, 2025

Friction on a single MoS2 nanotube.

Janez Jelenc¹, Maja Remskar

¹Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia. maja.remskar@ijs.si.

Nanoscale Research Letters

|April 12, 2012

Summary

Friction measurements on single molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanotubes show significantly lower friction for detached nanotubes compared to supported ones. This finding offers a new explanation for friction phenomena in MoS2 materials.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Tribology

Background:

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a layered material with potential applications in lubrication and electronics.
Understanding friction at the nanoscale is crucial for designing advanced materials and devices.

Purpose of the Study:

To measure friction on individual molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanotubes and nano-onions for the first time.
To investigate the relationship between substrate interaction strength and friction on MoS2 nanotubes.
To provide insights into long-standing friction phenomena in MoS2.

Main Methods:

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was employed to conduct friction measurements.
Experiments were performed in ultra-high vacuum at room temperature.

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Friction was analyzed on single MoS2 nanotubes, MoS2 nano-onions, MoS2 single crystals, and graphite.

Main Results:

The coefficient of friction for MoS2 nanotubes was lower than for MoS2 single crystals or graphite.
Friction on detached or weakly supported nanotubes was significantly lower (0.023 ± 0.005) than on well-supported nanotubes (0.08 ± 0.02).
Friction on a MoS2 nano-onion indicated a combined gliding-rolling mechanism.

Conclusions:

The interaction strength between MoS2 nanotubes and the substrate critically influences friction.
The study provides a potential explanation for the observed differences in friction between intra- and intercrystalline slip in MoS2.
The findings advance the understanding of nanoscale friction in layered materials.