[dummy2006]

Dear All,

Please kindly help me with this

How does the hydrophobic nature of gecko feet allow adhesion to wall surface and also why it is self-cleaning in nature?

How does this Van der Waals force on the toe hair interact with the surface to cause adhesion?

[Dan]

I don't know much about it, but I remember this article, it might help get you started

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/781611.stm

[BioNo418]

Well Hydrophobic- is when the water molecules are nonpolar. which mean they are neutral and cluster togther. For a gecko, its leg are like the molecules in water, meaning that they can use the tiny hairys they have to attach itself to the surface of walls without falling off.  Gecko footpads demonstrates that the attractive forces that hold geckos to surfaces are van der waals between the tiny hairs and the surface.