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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Sunbird, post: 7663628, member: 116324&quot;]If possible I&#039;d like to get some clarity on the science of abrasion, especially regarding the claims that cotton can scratch metal coins all by itself, without any contaminants whatsoever. Does anyone know the physics there? How does it work? Is it something that would be time dependent, requiring a long period?</p><p><br /></p><p>On the arguments about water and wind abrasion of rock, well, I&#039;m not sure if that&#039;s a valid argument. The processes involved there might not be relevant to the cotton on silver phenomenon. For one thing, if it&#039;s true that the abrasion is caused by the silt, sand, rocks, etc. carried by the water or wind, then the argument is definitely invalid. But even if that isn&#039;t the case, the true processes involved might still not apply to the cotton and coins case for other reasons.</p><p><br /></p><p>Human intuitions about scientific phenomena are often inaccurate, hence my post. I&#039;m trying to understand what&#039;s really happening. In general, the &quot;How do you think coins get worn down / canyons get carved?&quot; sorts of arguments aren&#039;t valid. Those comments don&#039;t tell us anything directly about how cotton might scratch metal. They&#039;re just a crude sort of spitballing where the fact that canyons get carved by water or something is supposed to justify a specific belief about cotton magically scratching metal. But of course it doesn&#039;t actually justify that belief, and it could never override direct research on the cotton and metal situation.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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