From Nick Thomas
In your report on artificial fingers you say “the software gauges how much downwards force the material absorbs by comparing the force applied by the finger with the force felt by the platform. Softer materials absorb more force” (4 August, p 23).
Perhaps you would like to explain how this is consistent with Newton’s third law of motion?
I look forward to breaking all world weightlifting records by using a suitably soft, force-absorbing material between my hands and the bar.
Of course, I would be careful to place the force-absorbing material the right way round!
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• Oops. That should have been “Softer materials show different rates of change of forces.”
Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
