Application of a new friction theory to ice and snow

A ncw th eor y, in which fri c ti o n is interpreled as the encrgy flu x req uired to fo rm surface a l contac t aspe riti es, is a ppliedlo sliding on ice a nd snow. Th e results of this th eo re ti ca l ill\Ts ti ga ti on show th a t in dry fri c ti o n the releva nt contact a reas a re of a lmost molec ul a r scale. The pro perti es of th e interface laye r in ice a nd snow fri c ti o n a re poorl y known, so th a t the implicati ons of this new th eory a re som ewha t spec ula tive . H owe\'e r, q ualita ti\'e agreem ent wi th ex perim en tal d a ta is good , a nd the theo ry prO\' ides ex pl a na ti ons to th e success of some empiricall y de\'e loped m ethods of improv ing th e fl' iCli ona l properti es of skis and sledges .