Okay.

So we’ve got an entirely flat surface that also happens to be the exact same length as the earth’s surface.

If you had one continuous piece of string that went from one end of that flat surface to the other, and on one end there was attached a bell… would you be able to ring the bell by pulling on the other end of string?

  • SanguinePar@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Why not? If I try to pull a toy car alomg using a big thick rope, the weight of the rope is relevant, not just the weight of the toy car.

    • NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Why not?

      When you want to lift it up vertically, then the force that you need is exactly the same as the weight.

      But when you push or pull it forward on a surface, you need a different force.

      Push a golf ball on the table: you need very small force, much less than it’s weight. Suck the same golf ball through a garden hose: you need much more force.

      You want to look up “coefficient of friction” in your books.

    • Sethayy@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      The force of friction is dependent on its weight (or more specifically the force of normal) but not only its weight