Scientists told why really confused garlands

New Year celebrations can not be imagined without strings, but to unravel them is not so easy. There is a scientific explanation for why the garlands are always tied in knots.

Colin Adams (Colin Adams)

The mathematician, on knot theory specialist.

Firstly, the cord, which is attached to a light bulb with a tendency to tangle - like cord from the headphone cord or landline phone.

Several years ago, scientists at the University of California in San Diego decided to test how easily tangled wiresSpontaneous knotting of an agitated string. . They put the pieces of the wires of different lengths in a box and then rotated it mechanically to the wires mixed up. This experiment was repeated over 3 are 400 times.

It turned out, the first nodes appear in a few seconds. Scientists also noticed that the longer the wire, the higher the probability of nodes on it.

Equally important is the material from which the wire is made: on softer wires knots are tied more often. Moreover, it affects the diameter. Wire with a larger diameter less flexible so the nodes on it will be less, even if it is long.

In short, the decisive role played by the cord length to its diameter.

That is why the tangled garden hoses - even though they are quite rigid, their length is significantly higher compared to their diameter.

But that's not all. Since the inside of the cord wire garland, he takes over from it something like "natural curvature." The wire is typically stored wound around a cylindrical coil, and then it tends to return to this position. A Christmas-tree garlands to straighten even more difficult because they are usually two intertwined with each other wire.

Well and secondly, to prevent themselves bulbs. They cling to each other and do not give to untie the knots.

How to get rid of this problem,

The simplest solution - folded as garlands, when you remove them from the trees and preparing to clean up next year. Tightly wrap them around something or fix in a few places with cable ties to the cord from tangling up.

If before you have tangled garland, get a free end and begin to unravel him. It is long, but in the end you still manage.

Or even give up the usual garlands and buy lighting cords. They multi-colored LEDs are inserted into a transparent tube. Of course, they can also be fastened in a knot, but at least it is easier to unravel.