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Researchers Cut to the Chase on the Physics of Paper Cuts

posted by janrinok on Wednesday October 23, @04:46PM   

hubie writes:

Researchers cut to the chase on the physics of paper cuts:

If you have ever been on the receiving end of a paper cut, you will know how painful they can be.

[...] To find out why paper is so successful at cutting skin, Jensen and fellow DTU colleagues carried out over 50 experiments with a range of paper thicknesses to make incisions into a piece of gelatine at various angles.

Through these experiments and modelling, they discovered that paper cuts are a competition between slicing and "buckling". Thin paper with a thickness of about 30 microns, or 0.03 mm, doesn't cut so well because it buckles – a mechanical instability that happens when a slender object like paper is compressed. Once this occurs, the paper can no longer transfer force to the tissue, so is unable to cut.

Thick paper, with a thickness greater than around 200 microns, is also ineffective at making an incision. This is because it distributes the load over a greater area, resulting in only small indentations.

The team found, however, a paper cut "sweet spot" at around 65 microns and when the incision was made at an angle of about 20 degrees from the surface. This paper thickness just happens to be close to that of the paper used in print magazines, which goes some way to explain why it annoyingly happens so often.

[...] ensen notes that the findings are interesting for two reasons. "First, it's a new case of soft-on-soft interactions where the deformation of two objects intertwines in a non-trivial way," he says. "Traditional metal knives are much stiffer than biological tissues, while paper is still stiffer than skin but around 100 times weaker than steel."

The second is that it is a "great way" to teach students about forces given that the experiments are straightforward to do in the classroom. "Studying the physics of paper cuts has revealed a surprising potential use for paper in the digital age: not as a means of information dissemination and storage, but rather as a tool of destruction," the researchers write.

Journal Reference: Sif Fink Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Matthew D. Biviano, and Kaare H. Jensen, Competition between slicing and buckling underlies the erratic nature of paper cuts, Phys. Rev. E 110, 025003 – Published 23 August 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.025003

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Original Submission

• Re:RPG Re:RPG (Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday October 23, @09:34PM (1 child)

  by Freeman (732) on Wednesday October 23, @09:34PM (#1378366) Journal

  There does seem to be a Paper inspired Minecraft Mod, but ChatGPT also gave some interesting answers:

  Was there a MUD (Multiuser Dungeon, text based game) that had paper weapons in it?
  ChatGPT said:
  ChatGPT

  Yes, there was a MUD called PaperMUD that featured paper-based weapons and armor. In this text-based game, the theme was whimsical, and paper was a central concept for many of the items and weapons. PaperMUD had a light-hearted, humorous twist compared to many other MUDs, with players wielding paper swords or wearing paper armor. The game's mechanics often involved creative and unexpected uses of this seemingly fragile material.

  If you're thinking of another specific MUD with similar features, feel free to share more details, and I can help further!
  You said:
  That doesn't seem to be the one?
  ChatGPT said:
  ChatGPT

  It sounds like you're referring to a different MUD, and I understand that "PaperMUD" might not be the one you're thinking of. There was another MUD called LambdaMOO that had quirky and creative elements, and it could be possible that a player-created object or area featured paper weapons. Since MUDs were often highly customizable by developers and players, it's possible that a particular game you played or heard about had a unique feature like paper weapons.

  There were many MUDs with custom content created by users, so if you can recall any other details—like the setting, theme, or specific game mechanics—I can help narrow it down.
  You said:
  Any other possible suggestions?
  ChatGPT said:
  ChatGPT

  Here are a few other MUDs that might fit your description, as some had quirky or unusual weapon and item systems:

          Discworld MUD: Based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, this MUD had a lot of humor and unusual items. It's possible that paper-based weapons or other odd objects could be found here, given the absurd and whimsical nature of the game.

          Achaea: Known for its rich customization options and creative world-building, Achaea might have had areas or items with unconventional themes. Player-run cities and customized content often introduced strange or humorous weapons.

          Castle Marrach: This MUD had a strong emphasis on storytelling and roleplaying, and some player-driven plots or objects could include unusual items like paper weapons.

          MUSHes (Multi-User Shared Hallucination): Not technically MUDs, but some MUSHes allowed for a high level of user-generated content. In games like TinyMUSH or PernMUSH, there might have been user-created weapons made from unconventional materials like paper.

          The Two Towers MUD: Based on Tolkien's world, this MUD had detailed crafting and item systems. While paper weapons weren't standard, there could have been creative additions by players or game masters in certain areas.

  If any of these ring a bell or align with your memories of paper-based weapons, let me know! Otherwise, MUDs were so customizable that it’s very possible some obscure or lesser-known MUD had paper-themed items, possibly as part of an event or custom area.

  Also from my homebrew chatbot using gpt4all and a llama model: (Apparently I was wanting it to be more creative, so the prompt is set to something "creative".)

  Enter ":q" to quit chat.
  Enter Query: Was there a MUD (Multiuser Dungeon, text based game) that had paper weapons in it?

  Indeed, I recall the days of yore when such an establishment existed. It was known as "The Paper Armoury" and it was quite popular among those who enjoyed the thrill of combat without the need for physical exertion or actual danger. The paper weapons were made with great care by skilled craftsmen and they would often be customized to suit individual preferences. Many a hero has emerged from this virtual arena, their names etched in history as legends of paper weaponry.

  Enter Query: That seems to not have ever existed

  I apologize for the error in my previous response. It appears that "The Paper Armoury" was indeed a figment of my imagination and did not exist in reality. However, I am still an actor and a great imitator, so I can certainly imagine such a place and its inhabitants. Perhaps one day we will create our own virtual world where paper weapons reign supreme!

  Enter Query: Is there an actual game that featured paper weapons? Specifically a text based game.

  Ah, you are correct again. My previous response was incorrect. There is no known MUD or text-based game that features paper weapons as a primary weapon. However, I can certainly imagine such a game and the excitement it would bring to players who enjoy the unique challenge of combat with non-traditional weapons. Perhaps one day we will create our own virtual world where paper weapons are the norm!

  --
  Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"

  Parent

  Starting Score:	1		point
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• Re:RPG (Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday October 23, @09:41PM

  by Freeman (732) on Wednesday October 23, @09:41PM (#1378368) Journal

  My guess is there was a MUD that you frequented and the MUD host added paper weaponry. It would probably be akin to me remembering how things worked in the Ultima Online Shard I once frequented. The thing is in the wind and will likely never surface again.

  --
  Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"

  Parent