Figure 1.

Potential energy well U(x), defined by its depth −u₀ and range r₀ (−5 k_BT and 0.1 nm, respectively, in this example), representing the interaction between a particle and a surface, modified by the mechanical force f applied to the particle initially located in the well. An increase of this force reduces the height of the energy barrier the particle has to overcome to achieve its detachment from the surface.