A new theoretical model for the collisional energy transfer between a
small solid particle and a smooth solid surface is presented. This mod
el predicts that the critical capture velocity in a normal incidence c
ollision is GRAPHICS where lambda is the ratio of the effective inerti
al mass of the substrate divided by the mass of the particle, d(p) is
the particle diameter, m(p) is the particle mass, Y-y is the yield str
ess of particle or substrate, whichever is smaller, and w is the Dupre
surface energy for the particle/substrate system.