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Fair coins tend to land on the side they started (2023)

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399 points seanhunter | 1 comments | 19 Nov 24 09:03 UTC | HN request time: 0.206s | source
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steeeeeve ◴[19 Nov 24 16:26 UTC] No.42185226[source]▶
I learned a trick with flipping coins from a barber at my grandpas shop when I was probably 6 or 7. Since then I've always been able to flip a coin and determine what the outcome is. It's really just being consistent with the flip and the catch.
replies(1): >>42185242 #
FartyMcFarter ◴[19 Nov 24 16:28 UTC] No.42185242[source]▶
If this is done with a quick toss and the coin is flipping rapidly in the air, that's pretty impressive.
replies(3): >>42185817 #>>42188558 #>>42193598 #
1. lupire ◴[20 Nov 24 13:07 UTC] No.42193598[source]▶
It's easy. All you need to do is rotate (yaw) your hand when flipping so that the coin spins but never actually flips, or a little slower so it flips only once. A watchful eye can detect it happening, though.

You can preview the effect by spinning a coin slowly on a table.

This is a common problem in intro Physics Mechanics class.