If you press your finger on a ballpoint pen resting on a hard surface, while simultaneously tilting it, then as long as the pen forms a small angle with a perpendicular to the surface, it will obediently follow the finger of the hand. As soon as the handle tilt angle exceeds a certain maximum value of \alpha_{max}, it will slip out from under your finger, no matter how hard or weak you press it. Experiment for yourself and estimate the coefficient of friction between the ball of the pen and the surface on which it rests.

Solutions of Savchenko Problems in Physics

Aliaksandr Melnichenka
October 2023

    <h3 id="back-link"><a href="/#2.1">$\leftarrow$Back</a></h3>

    <h3> Statement </h3>
    <p>
        $2.1.20.$ If you press your finger on a ballpoint pen resting on a hard surface, while simultaneously tilting it, then as long as the pen forms a small angle with a perpendicular to the surface, it will obediently follow the finger of the hand. As soon as the handle tilt angle exceeds a certain maximum value of $\alpha_{max}$, it will slip out from under your finger, no matter how hard or weak you press it. Experiment for yourself and estimate the coefficient of friction between the ball of the pen and the surface on which it rests.

    <h3>Solution</h3>
    <p>
        <center>

1. The friction force in magnitude cannot exceed the value $F_{fr} = \mu N$, where $N$ is the sum of the projections of all forces on the direction perpendicular to the possible movement. When the body is in equilibrium, the friction force is equal to the sum of the projections of the forces on the direction of movement. Thus, in a state of rest $$F_{fr} = mg \sin \alpha$$ 2. Otherwise, for $\mu \geq tg \\,\alpha$ $$F_{fr} = \mu mg \cos \alpha$$ 3. The maximum value of the friction force will occur at the angle $\alpha_0$ $$\boxed{\alpha_0 = \arctan \mu}$$

    <h4>Answer</h4>
    <p>
                  $$F_{fr} = mg \sin \alpha\text{ with }\tan\alpha \leq \mu$$
      $$F_{fr} = \mu mg \cos \alpha\text{ with }\tan\alpha \geq \mu $$
    </p>


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