News Physics

Science of friction is a bit rough

Lab experiments show limitations of classical equations

By Devin Powell

- More than 2 years ago

It’s no wonder earthquakes are so difficult to predict. Even simple laboratory simulations of the friction breakdowns that send tectonic plates lurching into motion are maddeningly difficult to explain.

NOT SO CUT-AND-DRIED Plastic blocks sliding past each other have challenged the traditional view of friction, revealing earthquake-like rupture waves (shown in illustration above) that spread and break the contacts between blocks (red indicates the most contact, blue the least).