ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Scientists Work Out Why Earphones Always Get Tangled

Scientists Work Out Why Earphones Always Get Tangled

Scientists put string in a box, started moving it around, and found 'within seconds' complex knots can form

Rachael Grealish

Rachael Grealish

Is it not just THE most annoying thing when you've neatly rolled up your earphones and tucked them away securely only to get them out half an hour later to see them tangled up in a ball? Why do they do this?

Well, if this is a question you've always had - scientists finally have an answer as to why it actually happens.

via GIPHY

So, here's what they did to find out, as reported by Discover Magazine.

The scientists reported on their research by saying: "It is well known that a jostled string tends to become knotted; yet the factors governing the "spontaneous" formation of various knots are unclear.

"We performed experiments in which a string was tumbled inside a box and found that complex knots often form within seconds. We used mathematical knot theory to analyze the knots. Above a critical string length, the probability P of knotting at first increased sharply with length but then saturated below 100 percent. This behavior differs from that of mathematical self-avoiding random walks, where P has been proven to approach 100 percent.

"Finite agitation time and jamming of the string due to its stiffness result in lower probability, but P approaches 100 percent with long, flexible strings. We analysed the knots by calculating their Jones polynomials via computer analysis of digital photos of the string.

Pexels

"Remarkably, almost all were identified as prime knots: 120 different types, having minimum crossing numbers up to 11, were observed in 3,415 trials. All prime knots with up to seven crossings were observed.

"The relative probability of forming a knot decreased exponentially with minimum crossing number and Möbius energy, mathematical measures of knot complexity. Based on the observation that long, stiff strings tend to form a coiled structure when confined, we propose a simple model to describe the knot formation based on random "braid moves" of the string end.

"Our model can qualitatively account for the observed distribution of knots and dependence on agitation time and string length."

Basically, scientists put string in a box, started moving it around, and found 'within seconds' complex knots can form.

In the box there were strings of several different levels of stiffness - the softer ones tangled easier and it took longer for the stiffer ones to.

PxHere

So, it's an unfortunate truth but, your garden hose - that'd be fine, but your flimsy earphones are doomed from the moment you roll them up.

We know why, now if they figure out a way to stop it that'd be great, because garden-hose-stiff earphones are not convenient - though it may be a good excuse to invest in those wireless ones you've wanted.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

Topics: Science, News