eli5: How can friction between two sticks create fire

Question

Like, what happens chemistry/physics wise

In: 0

Answer 1

Fire requires 3 things, fuel, oxygen, and heat. Oxygen is in the air and the stick itself it fuel, so if we add heat, we should be able to make fire.

Friction creates heat, so if we have enough friction, it should create enough heat to start a fire. Starting a fire with sticks is actually very difficult to just do on the spot, but when you do it, you usually use that heat to burn some fibers that easily catch and use that to start a fire.