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Get a piece of paper crumple it into a ball (or the closest thing you can get to it!). Now try to squeeze it into a smaller ball. You can’t get it any smaller, can you? Why not?

 

Up until now, no dog, cat or human had been able to provide an explanation for this supposedly simple mystery: how can one flimsy piece of paper become so strong when scrunched up? Now, some physicists (surprise, surprise) have been able to provide an answer.

 

Published in the Physics Review Letters journal, this study explains that the answer lies in the science of shapes, namely where energy goes when you crumple the piece of paper. The scientists investigated how the size of the crumpled piece of paper differed with different amounts of forces applied to it.

 

They concluded that a crumpled piece of paper is essentially compiled of edges and points, inside which the energy used to squeeze the ball, is contained. The experiments supported this view; as the ball is compressed more and more, the number of edges and points is has rises. After a while, the system become saturated and a massive squeeze is required to provide sufficient energy to even make the ball even just a little bit smaller.

 

 

To carry out your own version of this experiment…or to just be able to print out your letters and things, purchase some sheet paper. We’ve got lots to choose from, including copier, inkjet and laser paper in different sizes and to suit different budgets.