The slippery situation
Discovery
BBC
4.3 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 17 January 2022
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
'What is the slipperiest thing in the world?' asks 8 year old Evelyn? 'Why do my feet slip on a wet floor but when my feet are even slightly moist it's nearly impossible to put on a pair of socks without falling over and cursing the universe. What is going on here?' asks Evelyn's Dad, Sam. Hannah and Adam investigate the science of friction and lubrication - so called 'tribology' with the help of tribologists and mechanical engineers Professor Ashlie Martini from California University Merced and Professor Roger Lewis from the University of Sheffield. With their help Hannah and Adam find out why leaves on the line are so slippery, what happens to graphite in space and what is the slipperiest food. Professor of Materials, Mark Miodownik from University College London explains what's going on when friction stops two materials sliding past each other and wonders whether the slipperiest substance was actually discovered accidentally in a lab by scientists looking for something completely different. Also in the programme why the ability to reduce friction, even by minuscule amounts could have a huge impact for sustainability and reducing energy use.
Producers: Jen Whyntie and Pamela Rutherford
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, let me ask you, son. |
| 0:03.7 | Have you heard George's podcast? |
| 0:06.1 | Me and Ben Brick are back with a blast. |
| 0:08.1 | This time with stories from Africa's past, not too distant, unsolved mysteries, unsung |
| 0:13.7 | heroes from untold histories, I'm trying to make sense of the present day. |
| 0:19.5 | Join me on this journey, by pressing play. |
| 0:23.8 | Have you heard George's podcast, Chapter 4? |
| 0:27.2 | Listen on BBC Sound. |
| 0:30.5 | Hello and welcome to the curious cases of Rutherford and Fry on Discovery for the BBC. |
| 0:35.6 | This is the programme where you send us in the queries, questions and conundrums that |
| 0:40.2 | you are curious about, and we will look into them on your behalf using the power of science. |
| 0:45.7 | So please do send us your questions, curious cases at bbc.co.uk and on with the show. |
| 0:57.7 | We've got a very slippery customer for you today, sent in to curiouscases at bbc.co.uk. |
| 1:02.8 | True, true, Evelyn, age 8, emailed via her dad, Sam. |
| 1:06.4 | With the question, what is the most slippy thing in the world? |
| 1:10.3 | She goes on to suggest it might be ice, or maybe a fish, or oil, or maybe an ice cube |
| 1:15.8 | in the shape of a fish covered in oil? |
| 1:17.4 | Just throw them all in together, why not? |
| 1:19.3 | I love this question, you know, this is actually something that's very much in my wheelhouse. |
| 1:23.1 | Is it? I didn't think you were going to say that. |
| 1:25.0 | Oh yes, I spent years studying fluid dynamics, and I have dabbled in the slippery arts because |
| 1:30.8 | there is an entire discipline of science devoted to slipperiness, people who study what |
... |
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