Why do ballpoint pens write better on pages that have pages below them?

Question

If I write on the starting page of a notebook, it will write well. But when there are few or no pages below the page where I am writing, the pen will not write well. Why does this happen?

Answer 1

Try a ball point pen on glass or any hard polished surface. Try a felt tip marker on the same surface.

The ball-point works by the ball rotating and carrying ink with it. The rotation of the ball requires a force, which is applied by the friction between the ball and the paper. On a smooth hard surface, there is not enough friction.