How is physics involved with swords?

Question

turingtest · Answer

how is physics not involved with swords?
what aspect are you interested in?
cutting? material structure? balance?

anonymous · Answer

Sword balance

turingtest · Answer

all objects are balanced by their center of gravity

that is the point where all the mass of the sword can be treated as being located

to find the exact center of mass of an object as oddly shaped as a sword is best done through trial and error
(i.e. hang it by a string from two points. assuming the sword is laterally symmetrical you can find the center of mass by the intersection of the two lines it is hung by)

turingtest · Answer

|dw:1344284291468:dw|here is a simplified picture of a sword being held by a string

turingtest · Answer

now we imagine hanging it by another point
the intersection of the two lines drawn down from where the sword is hanging  is the center of mass|dw:1344284360902:dw|

turingtest · Answer

|dw:1344284467187:dw|

anonymous · Answer

Thank you. Could you also explain sword cutting?

turingtest · Answer

It's not even like I explained all there is to say about balance; I just explained one aspect

turingtest · Answer

cutting has and effect similar to an inclined plane|dw:1344284666774:dw|if you can imagine this inclined plane moving to the left you can imagine the ball forced upwards...

turingtest · Answer

|dw:1344284743886:dw|the ball was forced away from the floor by the action of the inclined plane

now imagine each ball is a molecule of your skin, and the blade is two inclined planes put together