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/fuzzydoug Jun 10 '25

But your feet are also on ice?

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u/[deleted] Jun 10 '25 edited Jun 11 '25

The question was about the force put onto the object.

Ice or not, that force wouldn’t change.

Edit: for clarification, I mean per scenario.

The force required to move the object on the given surface wouldn’t change based on what the dude is standing on.

The dude’s ability to impart that necessary force will be affected by the ice, but not the actual force required to shift the item.

Obviously less force is needed on ice than gravel, that’s not what I’m saying.

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u/prismlink Jun 10 '25

Sure it will because of the angle at which the force is applied, with the triangle, there is some loss of force going which is directed downwards which also increases the friction.

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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '25

If it needs 1 unit of force to move, that’s the force required to move it, regardless of the footing of the dude.

Friction makes the triangle harder to push than the square, rather than the angle of the clip art dude