Why does toast always land butter side down?

Question

I've asked my Dad, but he just laughs.

Answer 1

it's bucz with the butter on it makes that side heavier which causes that side to land down first

Answer 2

It does not always.

When toast falls off a table, the butter creates a mass on the top of the toast, but it is hard to explain the mechanichs in writing. You need to do a practical demonstration.

Sitch 1: The butter is evenly spread accross the entire slice.
The toast falls at a rate of 9.8 m/s/s and lands dry side down.

This rarely is so as we tend to put the knife at one edge and brush it accross the rest, making the edge we start on heavier.

Sitch 2: The butter is unevenly spread.
The butter will add a mass on one edge of the toast, pushing it downwards. The other side will rise, and this will start a spin on the toast. The average height of a kitchen worktop means that only half a revolutution can be achieved. Lands butter down.

Sitch 3: Butter unevenly spread, worktop at double the height.
Again the butter unbalanced mass starts a spin, however the extra height gives the toast time to complet a revolution. Toast lands Butter up.

Try it, its some entertainment at breakfast.

Answer 3

Would you believe some Uni studyed this and it will always land butter side down. Something to do with the height of the counter , the weight of the toast etc.

Answer 4

forget the physics answers...

it s because when you are carrying it at a height of 1-1.5 metres, it only has time to flip once when falling, unless artificially pushed!

You always carry your toast buttered side up, so when it slips off your plate it only has time to revolve once. Hence its that side that gets the good news.

If you got a piece of toast and spun it yourself, do you think it would turn only once and stay stuck with the buttered side down until it hit the floor..... no me neither.

Answer 5

It's air resistance. The butter side has less resistance because it's slicker & smoother. The non-butter side is rougher and causes the bread to flip over with more force.

Answer 6

you're just unlucky like that?? Or maybe u reconfigure the slice when u press on it to butter it. I doubt the weight of the butter is a factor

Answer 7

because that side is weighed down by the butter therefore hitting the floor first....as an experiment try peanut butter or cheez whiz...but just make sure u clean up the mess...

Answer 8

Because you buttered the wrong side.

Answer 9

Suppose it depends on the type of bread your using ..
Try a door step about 1 inch thick and see what happens.

Answer 10

Tie it to the back of a cat - as cats always land on their feet, the problem's solved.

And stop dropping it!