Four different ways that toast can fall off a table

Abstract

Abstract It is recognised that buttered toast that falls onto its buttered side is a consequence of the laws of physics rather than a consequence of Murphy’s law. However, the physics involved is not entirely clear, given the variety of different circumstances that can cause the toast to fall. Four launch conditions are examined in this paper, using wood blocks instead of toast. The problem is a general one, in the sense that different objects (including cars and people) can fall off different surfaces for different reasons.