The amount of surface area that the interleaved pages have, create an abundance of surface tension & friction.

Which in turn exceeds a persons ability to exert enough force to separate them.

No.

Just pointing out some factors that were not mentioned in the study. Paper has a natural saw tooth texture, how you finish it determines how rough. Roughness increases friction.

That roughness is what enables you to write easily on it. And conversely the "glossier" the paper the tougher to write on since it doesn't pull ink/graphite from your pen/pencil.

One example that comes to mind is lightweight materials for floors or bridges.

Have you tried this test with other types of paper?

It also didn't appear that they considered the materials directly. They did their test with specially prepared test books, did not say that the materials of those books were equivalent to a phone book.

If you run your hand over a phone book page, there is very much a detectable texture. The surface is more "saw toothed" than writing paper. Writing paper is finished smoother than phone book paper. That rougher surface means more microscopic points of contact, meaning even more friction holding them together against a horizontal pull.

I saw the episode on Mythbusters where they experimented with phone books. Great stuff. I think there may also be some kind of pressure effects going on that was not mentioned in the article. If the air between the pages gets squeezed out so the pressure is below atmosperic, that would increase the amount of frictional force between the pages.

And also, is there some kind of electrostatic effect that contributes? We've all seen static cling when we take our clothes out of the dryer.

Thank you! Enjoyed. :)

I got me one of those Chinese finger lock thinggys.
I am currently typing with my elbow.

Showing your youth, Robert? (Good one)

Try interleaving a philosophy book and a scientific treatise. The results should show the extent to which that philosophy sticks to reality.

Phonebook? What is this alien technology you speak of?

Can you think of any brilliant application of the principle?

This was fascinating and well written. Thanks, freedom!