Squirrel
Paranormal Maven
I've wondered about a little physics puzzle for decades, and I'm hoping some of the highly insightful members of this forum may have a solution. Is it "paranormal" - I'm not sure, but let me ask about it:
I use pencils a lot, as a crossword do-er.
I find that every year or two, even the highest quality hand-turned sharpeners suddenly (not gradually but suddenly) refuse to sharpen. Overnight.
No matter how hard I push in and turn, the pencil simply will not advance into the conical sharpening chamber.
Pushing the pencil sideways against the blade shows the blade is perfectly sharp and easily peels off the wood and graphite, but not if I push the pencil into the conical chamber along its axis.
So, toss one sharpener out, purchase another.
I have disassembled the sharpeners, taking the blade off, and I can't see any obstruction which should stop the pencil from advancing.
Has anyone figured out the physics of this anomalous prevention of movement?
-- Squirrel
I use pencils a lot, as a crossword do-er.
I find that every year or two, even the highest quality hand-turned sharpeners suddenly (not gradually but suddenly) refuse to sharpen. Overnight.
No matter how hard I push in and turn, the pencil simply will not advance into the conical sharpening chamber.
Pushing the pencil sideways against the blade shows the blade is perfectly sharp and easily peels off the wood and graphite, but not if I push the pencil into the conical chamber along its axis.
So, toss one sharpener out, purchase another.
I have disassembled the sharpeners, taking the blade off, and I can't see any obstruction which should stop the pencil from advancing.
Has anyone figured out the physics of this anomalous prevention of movement?
-- Squirrel