When is a coin like a frisbee? Answer: When you flip it

Oct. 21, 2009

Here is a new use for a super-high-speed video camera: Studying coin flip biases. It turns out that the mechanics of flipping a coin with your thumb introduces a frisbee-like action that makes the facing-up side of the coin more likely to come up when the coin stops. The results have implications in NFL overtime decisions as well as any other issue decided with a coin flip. Physorg.com has an item that goes into the details:

http://www.physorg.com/news175267656.html

About the Author

Lee Teschler

Editor

Leland was Editor-in-Chief of Machine Design. He has 34 years of Service and holds a B.S. Engineering from the University of Michigan, a B.S. Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan;, and a MBA from Cleveland State University. Prior to joining Penton, Lee worked as a Communications design engineer for the U.S. Government.