Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: graham.d on 27/12/2009 13:32:41

Title: Why does scraping one side of a ribbon make it curl that way?
Post by: graham.d on 27/12/2009 13:32:41

I noticed that coiled coloured foil or ribbon Xmas decorations are made by drawing the ribbon over one's thumbnail. They then will coil inwards and remain coiled. Does anyone know the mechanism here? Is it just bending over an edge repeatedly to stretch the outside or is it a more subtle structural change to the material?

Title: Why does scraping one side of a ribbon make it curl that way?
Post by: yor_on on 27/12/2009 16:34:53

I believe Karen knows :)