Why Is Ice Slippery? The Cool Science Behind It Video explanation You’ve probably slipped on ice at least once and wondered: Why is it so slippery? It’s not magic—it’s science, and it’s fascinating! At first, it seems like ice should be rough, like frozen rock. But when you step on it, your foot glides as if it’s on a slick slide. So, what’s going on? The Thin Layer Trick The main reason ice is slippery is because of a very thin layer of water on its surface. Even at freezing temperatures, the surface molecules of ice don’t behave like the ones deeper inside. These surface molecules are less tightly packed and more loosely bonded, which means they can move around more freely. It’s almost like a microscopic layer of liquid water exists on top of solid ice! When you step on ice, the pressure from your foot or the warmth of your body helps this layer become even thinner and more slippery. So, your shoe or skate doesn’t grip the surface—it slides! Pressure Melting vs. Fric...
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