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The understanding of atomic-scale friction requires a significant background in several related areas. One way to visualize the interaction of these disciplines is illustrated in this word web. The understanding of any of the so-called "hard" or mathematical sciences lies in mathematics. Typically, physics deals with the interactions between "chunks" of matter predicated by the fundamental forces of the universe. In particular, when these "chunks" are atoms and their major components, the science is chemistry. Since these particles must still obey the laws of the physical universe, the factor which links the two sciences is scale. Another interesting aspect of scale is that phenomena which are not easily detectable on the large scale become critical to understanding the behavior of particles on the sub-microscopic scale.
While there are many topics in each of these subject areas, there are only a few are represented here. The purpose of this site is to provide resources for understanding friction on both the large and small scales. So only topics deemed relevant to understanding current research in friction (e.g. scientific notation in math, used in reporting reseach) are presented herein. However, since this site is to help educate the public about advances in this highly technical area, some lower-level resources are still presented. In the same way, topics in physics and chemistry are presented in such a way that students in Jr. high / middle school or high school could find resources that would be meaningful for a report or science project on friction. Additionally, resources more appropriate to undergraduates in physics, chemistry, and engineering may be found here. Most of this wiki is dedicated to Graduate students and researchers in related areas, but there may be a few additional things here.
While there are many topics in each of these subject areas, there are only a few are represented here. The purpose of this site is to provide resources for understanding friction on both the large and small scales. So only topics deemed relevant to understanding current research in friction (e.g. scientific notation in math, used in reporting reseach) are presented herein. However, since this site is to help educate the public about advances in this highly technical area, some lower-level resources are still presented. In the same way, topics in physics and chemistry are presented in such a way that students in Jr. high / middle school or high school could find resources that would be meaningful for a report or science project on friction. Additionally, resources more appropriate to undergraduates in physics, chemistry, and engineering may be found here. Most of this wiki is dedicated to Graduate students and researchers in related areas, but there may be a few additional things here.
| MATH | PHYSICS | CHEMISTRY | SCALE |
|---|---|---|---|
| A general resource detailing pertinent mathematical concepts. | A breakdown of various friction-related topics covered in physics. | Basic chemistry concepts necessary to understand friction at the smallest scale. | An overview of scaling concepts and how they affect friction from the easily observable macroscopic to the atomic level. |
| By Level | By Level | By Level | By Level |
| Graduate Undergraduate Senior High (9-12) Junior High (6-8) | Graduate Undergraduate Senior High (9-12) Junior High (6-8) | Graduate Undergraduate Senior High (9-12) Junior High (6-8) | Graduate Undergraduate Senior High (9-12) Junior High (6-8) |
| By Topic | By Topic | By Topic | By Topic |
| Scientific Measurement Significance & Scientific Notation Calculating Surface Area Vector Algebra | Forces Work & Energy Macroscopic Planar Friction Microscopic Friction Waves & Sonics Electrostatics | Fundamentals of Atoms Bonding Entropy & Enthalpy Forces Between Atoms & Molecules | Considerations of Scaling Quantum Implications |
It is worthy of note that several of the sites listed under one category or another fit well into multiple categories. In an effort to avoid redundancy, they are not included in every category, but it is sometimes mentioned that they referenced other topics. Here is a list of several sites and there overarching topic areas:
- Wikipedia has articles on nearly every topic mentioned here. Some are more useful than others. All levels.
- Wolfram Mathworld covers nearly every topic in math, and some in physics.
- Georgia State University has sites on hyperphysics and hypermath covering those topics well.
- Zona Land has extensive sections on both physics and math.
- Clemson University has many physics tutorials and labs online here.
- Mainland High School has online physics resources on most major physics topics.
- Purdue University chemistry education provides excellent resources for a variety of topics.
- Friends School Chemistry resource page is also quite extensive.
- Glenbrook High School has a page FULL of tutorials and labs on physics and chemistry.
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