Van der Waals force

Okay kiddo, have you ever played with magnets? You know how the plus and minus sides of the magnets stick together? That's because of a force called magnetism.

Well, van der Waals force is kind of like that but it happens between molecules or atoms. You can't see them, but everything around us is made up of these tiny molecules and atoms, including the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Now, some molecules or atoms, even though they're not magnets, can still have small charges on them that make them attract or repel each other. When two molecules or atoms are close enough, they can feel this force and stick together.

Think of it like two people holding hands. If they get close enough, they can feel the warmth and energy between them, and it's like a tiny force that pulls them together. That's what van der Waals force does to molecules and atoms.

Scientists use van der Waals force to explain things like why geckos can stick to walls, how some bugs can walk on water, and even how some molecules can stick together to form solids.

So, in summary kiddo, van der Waals force is a tiny force that happens between tiny molecules or atoms, helping them stick together or repel each other, just like two people holding hands!