Why does it rip when you tug sharply on toilet paper, rather than just unravelling as it would if you tugged with less force, but quicker?

781 views
0
2 Comments

Why does it rip when you tug sharply on toilet paper, rather than just unravelling as it would if you tugged with less force, but quicker?

In: Physics

DeviaI commented

>if you tugged with less force, but quicker

That’s not physically possible. Force is mass × acceleration. A sheet of toilet paper always weighs the same, ∴ if you pull it quicker it will automatically be with more force. Anything else is physically impossible.
SeanUhTron commented

When you pull quicker, you’re using more force, but over a shorter amount of time. With more force, the serrated part of the toilet paper becomes the weakest link and breaks.