Find solution
Why does paper tear easily when wet?

Why does toilet paper tear from the roll only when pulled quickly?

  • When pulled slowly, the paper does not tear, why?

  • Answer:

    Inertia.

Russ Raymoure at Quora Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

If you put one hand on the roll to stop its moving, you can tear off a piece as slowly as you like, using only sufficient force to tear through the perforations. Otherwise, you have to pull quickly, as noted in the other answers, due to inertia.

John Burgess

Newtons second law of motion simply states that the force (F) on an object is proportional to its acceleration (a). F=ma. As you can probably imagine the paper is more likely to snap if it receives a greater force. It is not so much the velocity at which you pull the roll which causes it to break but the acceleration. If pull it with a greater acceleration, it will undergo a greater force.

Toby Miller

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.