Sunday, May 9, 2010

Phinal Physics Phun (the one you've been waiting for)

Finally it's the end of a good year and it's time for the blog yo have been waiting for. *drum roll* The Hair-combing blog. Now doc! mentioned at the beginning of this weekly chore that we could do anything we want including brushing our hair. Now I am here to discuss this physical activity that involves electrostatics, kinematics and optics. In the Electrostatics arena combing one's hair is similar to brushing electrons off of atoms to create and electrical difference. Now the reason brushing our hair with a comb doesn't create a shock like rubbing latex against it is the fact that the plastic combs people use now a days cannot create an electrical imbalance due to the nonconductivity of the material.
In regards of kinematics, hair combing creates two-three-dimensional forces. If was brushing short hair as seen above, the comb creates a torque on each individual strand of hair with the base of the strand a a pivot. If one was brushing longer hair, the comb would create tension and friction within the hair follicles.


The third area of hair physics is the optical effects of hair. Hair tends to have a nice sheen to it when brushed properly (easier to see in longer hair). This effect is similar to a butterfly's thin-film wings since a single strand is slightly reflective. A bunch of the strands perfectly aligned create a reflective surface where light bounces off and makes the hair appear to shine on its own different colors. AS the light bounces off and has different amount of path differences, different colors appear. Well until next year doc! this will be my last words.

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