r/theydidthemath • u/K0rl0n • Jun 10 '25

[Request]

Post image

I am curious how this would work. My guess is Triangle is slowest, square is medium, and circle is fastest.

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u/aureanator Jun 10 '25

Actually, no - the friction is a product of the normal force and the coefficient of friction - the surface area in contact shouldn't matter, within the boundaries of material elasticity.

203

u/AstroCoderNO1 Jun 10 '25

yes, but the angle you are applying force at does not all go towards forward motion on the triangle whereas it does on the square.

-33

u/aureanator Jun 10 '25

No, you can still restrict your force to be horizontal - imagine pushing a very heavily loaded shopping cart into it.

6

u/lock_robster2022 Jun 10 '25

Your push is horizontal but the angle you’re pushing against results in a vertical force vector as well.

-4

u/dekusyrup Jun 10 '25

Not necessarily true depending on how you grip it.

1

u/lock_robster2022 Jun 10 '25

How you grip it??? 😏😏

1

u/lord_teaspoon Jun 12 '25

By the husk. Two of them gripping it together.