Sneakers squeak on basketball courts. Physics explains why

Sneakers squeak on basketball courts. Physics explains why

The sounds of a basketball game don’t just include the smack of a bouncing ball, players’ shouts and the cheers of a crowd. They also feature lots of squeaking sneakers. Shoes make these sharp sounds as players abruptly stop or turn. Now, physicists understand why. High-speed videos reveal that as a shoe slides on a floor, it goes through a stick-slip motion. Parts of the shoe’s sole stick in place as other parts slip forward. The shoe slips in …