In a jar of mixed nuts, why do Brazil nuts end up on top? (en.wikipedia.org)

3 points by bns 1y ago ↗ HN

3 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 15.3 ms ] thread

Shaking the jar sorts the small ones to the bottom. Sames reason chips in a big have dust at the bottom.

Depends on the size and shape of the particles, see https://www.nature.com/articles/429352a.pdf for a demonstration of the "reverse brazil nut effect".

Could be attracted to a major radiation source (note the symbol)? "Radium is a chemical element with the symbol Ra and atomic number 88."