Scientists Uncover Why Ice Is Slippery After 200 Years

Rapid Summary

• New research from Saarland University reveals that ice becomes slippery due to molecular dipole interactions, not pressure or friction as previously believed.
• The study overturns a paradigm established nearly two centuries ago by James Thompson, the brother of Lord Kelvin. Pressure and friction play minimal roles in forming the thin liquid layer on ice.
• Molecular dipoles-regions of partial positive and negative charges on molecules-disrupt ice’s ordered crystalline structure, leading to a disordered amorphous state that ultimately forms a slippery liquid layer.
• Dipole interactions at extremely low temperatures suggest that even near absolute zero, a lubricating liquid film can form between surfaces like skis and ice. However,this film becomes highly viscous and impractical for skiing at such conditions.
• The scientific community is closely examining the implications of this discovery.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This breakthrough has significant implications for both scientific understanding and practical applications. Historically accepted explanations about why ice is slippery may now need revision in textbooks worldwide, making Saarland University’s research pivotal in reshaping fundamental knowledge about surface physics.

For India, where winter sports are growing modestly in regions like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, such findings could improve equipment design for safer skiing or hiking conditions by focusing more on materials’ molecular properties rather than conventional assumptions about pressure or temperature limitations. Moreover, industries reliant on cold storage could potentially explore new ways to manage frost formation based on these insights into molecular dipoles.

While theoretical advancements may seem distant from daily life concerns like slipping on icy pavements, this research highlights how basic physics can surprise us-and transform how we approach real-world challenges.

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