Do you know your physics?

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Think you know your physics? Well, dust off those old formulas, grab a pad of paper, metric ruler, and eraser, and try this problem:

While erasing some pencil marks on a sheet of paper you wonder what the coefficient of static friction is between the rubber eraser and the paper. You check your desk drawer for devices that could help you to experimentally determine this (such as a postage scale, etc.) but find you only have a 30 cm ruler and a pad of paper in addition to your rubber eraser. Using only an eraser, a pad of paper, and a 30 cm ruler, you can determine the coefficient of static friction. Explain what you would do to measure the coefficient of friction using only these items (no timers, scales, etc. allowed).

Can you figure it out? I did.

(Answer will be posted later.)

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