Why Does Toast with Butter Always Land Butter-Side Down?

  • Thread starter Himal kharel
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In summary, the conversation discusses the common phenomenon of a toast with butter on one side always landing buttered side down when thrown. The participants reference a study by Bacon, Heald, and James, as well as other sources, to explain this occurrence. They also mention the possibility of increasing the tendency for the toast to land buttered side down by tying it to a cat and throwing it out of a window. This topic has been widely discussed and a popular image of an "antigravity cat" with toast attached is shared.
  • #1
Himal kharel
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why does side with butter always lands when a toast with butter on one side is thrown?
 
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  • #2
See http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~mfuhrer/course/spr02/AJP/AJP00038.pdf" [Broken] by Bacon, Heald and James, which gives further references.
 
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  • #3
So if you tie a butter and jam( to increase the tendancy) piece of toast to the back of a cat that you then throw out a window, will the cat land on its feet or will the toast land with the buttered side down?
 
  • #4
This topic has been done soooo many times.

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/File:Cat_toast_swirl.gif

Still cute though. (thank you 256bits for giving me the chance to post the antigravity cat again)
 
  • #5


This phenomenon is known as the "buttered toast effect" and has been studied by scientists and mathematicians for many years. The most widely accepted explanation is due to the combination of gravity, the height of the fall, and the shape and weight distribution of the toast.

When a piece of toast with butter on one side is thrown, it begins to rotate in the air. The buttered side, being heavier and more uneven than the dry side, creates more drag and causes the toast to rotate faster. As it falls, gravity pulls the toast towards the ground, and the faster rotation of the buttered side causes it to flip over, resulting in the buttered side landing face down.

The height of the fall also plays a role in this phenomenon. The longer the fall, the more time the toast has to rotate, increasing the likelihood of it landing butter-side down. Additionally, the shape and weight distribution of the toast can also affect the rotation and landing.

While it may seem like a frustrating and inevitable occurrence, the buttered toast effect is simply a result of basic laws of physics. It is an interesting and fun phenomenon to observe, but it is also important to remember to always be careful when handling hot toast with butter to avoid any accidents.
 

1. Why does toast with butter always land butter-side down?

This phenomenon is due to a combination of factors, including the weight distribution of the toast and the height at which it falls. When toast is dropped from a typical table height, it has enough time to rotate and land butter-side down due to its heavier, buttered side.

2. Is there any way to prevent toast with butter from landing butter-side down?

Yes, there are a few tricks you can try to increase the chances of your toast landing butter-side up. One method is to butter the toast all the way to the edges, which can help distribute the weight more evenly. Another option is to drop the toast from a lower height, giving it less time to rotate.

3. Does the type of butter or bread affect the outcome?

The type of butter or bread used does not have a significant impact on the outcome. However, using a thicker slice of bread may increase the chances of it landing butter-side down due to its larger surface area.

4. Can this phenomenon be explained by science?

Absolutely! The laws of physics, particularly the principle of conservation of angular momentum, can explain why toast with butter tends to land butter-side down. Additionally, the height and weight distribution of the toast also play a role in the outcome.

5. Is there any practical application for understanding why toast with butter always lands butter-side down?

While it may not have any significant practical applications, understanding this phenomenon can help us better understand the laws of physics and how they apply to everyday objects. It can also be a fun topic for scientific experiments and demonstrations.

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