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How do pencil erasers work?

How do pencil erasers work?

  • Why is it that if you rub a clay/graphite (Commonly called pencil lead) mix onto paper, why will rubbing it with an eraser remove it. How does it do this? Does it remove layers of the ...show more

  • Answer:

    lol why do you ask? Erasers pick up graphite particles, thus removing them from the surface of the paper. Basically, the molecules in erasers are 'stickier' than the paper, so when the eraser is rubbed onto the pencil mark, the graphite sticks to the eraser preferentially over the paper. Some erasers damage the top layer of the paper and remove it as well. Erasers attached to pencils absorb the graphite particles and leave a residue which needs to be brushed away. This type of eraser can remove the surface of the paper. Soft vinyl erasers are softer than the erasers attached to pencils, but are otherwise similar

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its like dirt and when u rub it it go away

rubs off the lead

Cali H

believe it or not it rubs off the lead, the rubber kinda gets the led on its self and then it breaks off the eraser that's why it leaves those little specs of eraser because it came off from rubbing off the lead, so it rubs it off then falls off its quite simple

Jesse B

I've always assumed the eraser was a porous material. it pulls off the graphite because graphite is a gritty material (kinda like solidified powder). Some erasers on cheap pencils are just plastic and poor quality, which wont take the graphite off quite as easily. Good artist's erasers vary but do the same thing. Some erasers are a pliable sticky material that will pull off the graphite powder, others (white plastic erasers or pink erasers) pull the powder away while cleaning it off themselves by leaving that residue. hard erasers can tear the paper because paper is just filaments stuck together. if you erase too hard or too often, it will tear off those filaments, leaving a "hole" in your paper. That hole makes the paper have a tendency to rip, which is why I'd suggest investing in a good art gum eraser or a white plastic eraser! Even if you aren't doing art, it is nice to have a clean sheet of paper to work on. That's what I always thought anyway!! Its good to know people are asking random questions!!

noir

It removes layers of the paper, keep earasing and you will rub a hole in the paper.

Heidi P

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