1. May 15, 2016 #1

   kolleamm

   

   Consider we have an iron piece. If we could somehow tap on the iron with our finger for a very long long time, I mean millions of years, would it ever be able to make a dent?

    

   kolleamm, May 15, 2016
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3. May 16, 2016 #2

   mfb

   

   Insights Author

   2016 Award

   Staff: Mentor

   Yes. Assuming your finger stays healthy and regenerates to keep tapping. Every tap pushes some iron atoms to the side.
   
   You might want to do that in a water and oxygen-free environment, otherwise it will rust way before you see any effect from tapping.

    

   mfb, May 16, 2016
4. May 16, 2016 #3

   pixel

   

   Rocks in streams are smooth because the flowing water gradually wears them away.

    

   pixel, May 16, 2016
5. May 17, 2016 #4

   kolleamm

   

   True but I remember reading something about iron being able to resist infinite cycles of deformation if they are small enough. It was on the topic of elastic limit.

    

   kolleamm, May 17, 2016
6. May 17, 2016 #5

   mfb

   

   Insights Author

   2016 Award

   Staff: Mentor

   Infinite for all practical purposes, not actually infinite.
   On extremely long timescales, the iron will sublimate atom by atom if nothing else destroys it before.

    

   mfb, May 17, 2016
7. May 17, 2016 #6

   kolleamm

   

   Thanks for the answer. That makes sense.

    

   kolleamm, May 17, 2016

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