Final answer:
Abrasives used in products such as toothpaste are designed to remove plaque and prevent dental conditions. They include materials like aluminum hydroxide and calcium carbonate and must have appropriate size and hardness. Physics problems can involve calculations based on properties of abrasives like their effect on angular acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abrasives are insoluble particles incorporated in products like toothpaste and are essential for effective cleaning by physically removing plaque from teeth. While their primary use lies in dental hygiene promoting the reduction of tartar, cavities, and periodontal disease, the size and hardness of abrasives are critical factors in their functionality. Common abrasives include aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogen phosphates, various silicas, zeolites, and hydroxyapatite.
Abrasives like pumice, calcium carbonate, kaolinite, quartz, soapstone, or talc, which are used as polishing agents, are generally smaller than 0.05 mm. This small size allows for a gentle polishing effect without causing damage to the cleaned surfaces. In physics, understanding the properties of abrasives can help solve problems, such as calculating the angular acceleration of a grindstone when a force is applied or determining how many turns the stone will make before coming to rest.