Klarinet Archive - Posting 000116.txt from 1998/01

From: "Baldy" <comic@-----.com>
Subj: Re: swabbing really does wear it out
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 23:56:37 -0500

Ah, ha - you have discovered the premise of my argument. In your example it
is not your finger that has worn down the stone. It is the dirt (even
microscopic) that has the abrasive qualities. The same thing with a swab -
the swab cloth in and of itself will not - cannot - wear down anything
harder than itself. Contaminated with dirt and dust - it might.

Bob

----------
> From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Cc: wde1@-----.com
> Subject: Re: swabbing really does wear it out
> Date: Saturday, January 03, 1998 9:33 PM
>
>
> On Sat, 3 Jan 1998, Baldy wrote:
>
> > this has really confused me. As I understand the basic thesis it is
being
> > suggestd that a softer item can wear down a harder item. I always
thought
> > it was the other way around. I guess then I could take a soft cloth and
rub
> > it on a diamond and gradually wear it away. Go figure!
> >
> > Bob
>
> Use your finger to rub a stone (I would argue that your finger is softer
> than a stone?) and do this for a year or two. I guarantee that you will
> wear the stone enough to make a measurable difference.
>
> Water running across a rock bed is softer than the rock, yet erosion
> exists....
>
> Are you still confused?
>
> Roger Garrett
> IWU
>
>