Teaching Physics with the Physics Suite

Edward F. Redish

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Keep the dust off your hard drive!

A current generation hard drive in a computer spins at a rate of 7000 rpm. The disk in the drive is about the same size as a floppy disk. Estimate the coefficient of friction that would permit the frictional force keep a speck of dust sitting on the disk from sliding off. Assume the speck has a mass of 50 mg. Discuss the implications of your result.


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Page last modified October 9, 2002: R05