What is Paper: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distributed on the surface, followed by pressing and drying. Although paper was originally made in single sheets by hand, almost all is now made on large machines—some making reels 10 metres wide, running at 2,000 metres per minute and up to 600,000 tonnes a year. It is a versatile material with many uses, including printing, packaging, decorating, writing, cleaning, filter paper, wallpaper, book endpaper, conservation paper, laminated worktops, toilet tissue, currency and security paper and a number of industrial and construction processes.
The papermaking process developed in east Asia, probably China, at least as early as 105 CE, by the Han court eunuch Cai Lun, although the earliest archaeological fragments of paper derive from the 2nd century BCE in China. The modern pulp and paper industry is global, with China leading its production and the United States following.

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  1. tony873004

    Where Does the Energy Come From in Capillary Action?

    If you dip a paper towel into water, the water absorbs up the paper towel. These molecules are gaining height, and hence mgh is increasing. Where does the energy come from to lift the water molecules?
  2. C

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  3. H

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  4. C

    Efficient Disjoint Cycle Calculation | Past Exam Paper Help

    Express as the product of disjoint cycles: a. (1,2,3)(4,5)(1,6,7,8,9)(1,5) b. (1,2)(1,2,3)(1,2) I know how to do in 2 row permutations, with right to - left. can anyone tell me , how to express it without transfer it into 2 row permutations. 2 disjoint product. eg. (123)(234)...
  5. C

    Interesting paper - The Schwarzschild Proton

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  6. R

    Obtaining A(r) Using Ampere's Law: Question on a Past Paper

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  7. J

    2nd year university Quatum Physics paper. Please help.

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  8. B

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  9. W

    New paper in GRL confirms link between sun and clouds on global scale

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  10. marcus

    Noteworthy paper by Bianchi

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  11. S

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  12. A

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  13. fluidistic

    Orthographic critique about an arxiv paper

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  14. C

    Navigating the Embargo Policies of Science and Nature Journals

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  15. E

    How to draw this grapg on paper

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  16. marcus

    Our picks for second quarter 2009 MIP (most important QG paper)

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  17. R

    Looking for Category Theory Paper

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  18. M

    Why Does Paper Stick to Hot Bowls?

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  19. S

    Idea for paper on the scientific revolution

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  20. K

    Conquering the Paper and Pen Challenge: A Physics-Based Solution

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  21. O

    Nanotechnology Paper: Exploring Latest Projects

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  22. R

    Extracting data from copyrighted images in a paper ?

    I am using quite a few images from other neuroscience papers or medical books in my paper. I went through the recommended procedure of writing to the authors and copyright owners about six weeks ago. All the authors wrote back right away and said ok to use. The copyright owners: journals and...
  23. arivero

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  24. X

    What are some suitable topics for a paper about physics?

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  25. O

    Building a Paper Airplane for a 9ft Drop and 8m Flight

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  26. marcus

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  27. O

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  28. R

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  29. C

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  30. Y

    Thermo/Fluids Research Paper Idea

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  31. J

    John Baez and John Huerta Paper

    The Algebra of Grand Unified Theories John C. Baez, John Huerta (Submitted on 9 Apr 2009) Abstract: The Standard Model of particle physics may seem complicated and arbitrary, but it has hidden patterns that are revealed by the relationship between three "grand unified theories": theories...
  32. R

    Do i need approval to use graphics from one paper in another paper ?

    just wondering whether copyright approval is needed if i use say an fMRI image from a paper in my own ? If so do they require payment ? If anybody has had to do this were there any complications, such as the copyright holder having to review in what context the image was used ? Thanks...
  33. P

    Suggestions for Term Paper?

    I have following topics and I have to choose one among them for the term paper in Calculus II: 1- Numerical Analysis. 2- Sequence and Series. 3- Polar Coordinates. 4- Finding Areas through Integration. What topic would make the most interesting paper considering the applications? P.S...
  34. D

    Optimization - Find dimension of a cup that uses least amount of paper

    Homework Statement A cone-shaped paper drinking cup is to be made to hold 30 cm3 of water. Find the height and radius of the cup that will use the smallest amount of paper. Homework Equations volume of a cone (1/3)(pi)(r^2)(h) = 30 SA of a cone pi(r)[sqrt(r^2 + h^2)] The Attempt at...
  35. U

    I need some help with aerodynamics and paper planes.

    Homework Statement i have to write this physics paper on the aerodynamics behind the flying of a paper plane. what laws are being applied to make it fly? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  36. T

    Paper Towers - Any Known Record, we got 194 cm

    Hey Everyone, Today I subbed for a very clever group of Physics I students at Anderson High School, 3rd Period, Mr. Holman (April 3rd, 2009), Austin TX. We did the standard Paper Towers project with the following rules: a) 1 sheet of regular Letter sized copy paper / printer paper --...
  37. K

    Unrolling of Paper (Torque/Rotational Motion)

    1. The radius of the roll of paper is 7.9cm and its moment of inertia is I= 3.1×10−3 kg m^2 . A force of 2.3 N is exerted on the end of the roll for 1.3 s, but the paper does not tear so it begins to unroll. A constant friction torque of 0.13 mN is exerted on the roll which gradually brings it...
  38. marcus

    Our picks for first quarter 2009 MIP (most important QG paper)

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  39. C

    Paper Tower - Mats: (1) Letter Size Paper

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  40. marcus

    Ideas for first quarter 2009 most important paper (nominations)

    Here our last MIP poll: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=282166 By the end of this month I'd like to have a short list of promising first quarter papers. Ones that appeared Jan-March 2009 and stand a good chance of turning out to be important or valuable for future research...
  41. L

    Paper due on Deregulation in Airlines

    I have a paper due on Deregulation in Airlines but I can find nothing if anyone has a website that will help me please write it's urgent:confused:
  42. C

    Discussing "Time for a Change: The Non-Existence of Time" by Lynds

    I found this on the web, it was written by someone without formal physics education but I was wondering what some educated users here with a background in physics think about it. My problem with it is that he claims time doesn't exist in any perspective only this physical continuity but how can...
  43. J

    Mean-field, High T Expansion paper

    This is a discussion on the 1991 paper on "How to expand around mean-field theory using high-temperature expansions" by Georges and Yedidia, http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0305-4470/24/9/024". Published in the Journal of Physics. We will be adding questions, comments etc. and share/critique the...
  44. E

    Building a Paper Bridge: Connecting the Rings and Deck

    We are trying to build a bridge made from paper, water based glue and cotton strings. The bridge must be able to hold 5kg; however, we would like it to hold more weight. The weight of the bridge should also be taken into consideration. So we came up with numerous designs and we finally...
  45. marcus

    Asymptotic Safety paper thanks Jacques Distler

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  46. R

    Mass of a paper clip using the net torque equations

    hi i have a lab due and i can't figure this out. we have to find the mass of a paper clip using the net torque equations. we have 3 clamps attached to the fulcrum stand so we have to incorporate the force of gravity on them too. to make the stand level the paper clip attached to a clamp is at 50...
  47. E

    Paper Submission Rejection: A Silver Lining for My Complex Writing Style

    I got good news..sorta... My paper got rejected by the editors from a journal because it was 'too complex' 'too forbidding' for its audience. That's good news because at least I know the caliber of my work isn't 'basic'. I was concerned that my works was based too much off calculus concepts...
  48. B

    Air friction on a A4 paper ( Classical Mechanics )

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  49. O

    Determining coefficients of friction of paper

    Homework Statement My friend and I are attempting to figure out what the coefficient of friction is of a stack of paper (say, 100 sheets). Through our research, we've found that the coefficient of friction (\mu) is the maximum possible static friction force (F) divided by the normal force...
  50. U

    How should I cite my self-translated work in my research paper?

    Hi all, I'm writing my IB extended essay in history (the IB is an international high school curriculum; I'm a senior in high school). I know normally for a work in translation you are supposed to credit both the author and the translator, but one of the works I translated myself (I can read...
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