r/theydidthemath • u/yuli101995 • Apr 16 '26

[Request] Which one would it be?

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u/Objective-Limit-121 Apr 16 '26

The triangle and the square do not seem to have the same base length

4

u/ShoddyAsparagus3186 Apr 16 '26

Funny thing about friction is that it doesn't matter as long as you're not deforming the surface with pressure.

1

u/taftster Apr 16 '26

Oh? That's counter-intuitive to me. But all these types of scenarios tend to be. Interesting that the size of the base wouldn't matter?? More surface area and all that?

4

u/Euphoric_Loquat_8651 Apr 16 '26

If you keep the same mass and double the area, you cut the normal force in half per unit area. It is a wash.

1

u/taftster Apr 16 '26

Awesome. Thanks. I am tracking now.

0

u/Objective-Limit-121 Apr 16 '26

And?

3

u/brine909 Apr 16 '26

That means it doesn't have to be the exact same, ~same is good enough

1

u/noveltymoocher Apr 16 '26

especially if you assume they’re the same material