Your hair can crack steel when/if it hits the right spot

[GoodTaste]

I wonder what is the difference between " Your hair can crack steel when it hits the right spot" and "Your hair can crack steel if it hits the right spot."

Since "if" means "in case that", the both sentences seems to convey the same meaning with a slightly different style. I am not sure because I don't know what you native speakers feel about "when" and "if".

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Your hair can crack steel when it hits the right spot

Although your hair is much softer than steel, razors typically only last for a handful of shaves. Previously, researchers attributed this to the sharp edge gradually wearing down after each use. But a new study reveals a different process at play.


Researchers used a powerful electron microscope to observe how the razor blades change after shaving. Instead of the razor slowly and evenly losing its sharp edge, they instead saw the formation of tiny cracks, then large chips of steel flaking off the edge of the blade.

Source: Science By Meagan Cantwell Aug. 12, 2020 , 12:00 PM
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/your-hair-can-crack-steel-when-it-hits-right-spot

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I wonder what the difference is between " Your hair can crack steel when it hits the right spot" and "Your hair can crack steel if it hits the right spot."

Not much.

Since "if" means "in case that", the both sentences seems to convey the same meaning with a slightly different style.

Yup.

I am not sure because I don't know how you native speakers feel about "when" and "if".

I feel good about them.

Sometimes only one or the other makes sense. In your example, either is good and would mean the same thing.

 

[probus]

Since "if" means "in case that", the both sentences seems to convey the same meaning

It is unnatural to say "the both sentences". I can't explain why, but native speakers would always use "both the ..." or " both of the..." rather than "the both...".

 

[Tdol]

" Your hair can crack steel when it hits the right spot" - The speaker is saying that your hair will hit the right spot.

Given that the article suggests this is what happens when shaving, it seems the correct choice to me- this is why razor blades lose their edge.

 

[Tarheel]

Try:

both sentences seem to convey the same meaning

Or:

both sentences seem to say the same thing.