How does ribbon curling work

One of the most fascinating discoveries, however, was that increased tension on the ribbon only increased curling to a point. Once the stretching in the ribbon passed the halfway point within the ribbon and began to affect the side of the ribbon closest to the blade, curling effects were reduced.

If you are having trouble visualising this, think about an athletics track going round a bend: the outside lane is longer than the inside. If you stretch a material far enough then it no longer springs back the elastic response and instead holds its shape plastic deformation. A curl develops when the upper surface of the ribbon is permanently stretched more than the lower surface and the diameter of the curl depends on the relative difference in length between the upper and lower surfaces.

The main conclusions from the paper were that the radius of the resulting curl depends on how hard a ribbon is pulled as well as the blade sharpness. Sharper blades give the tightest curls, but pulling too hard or too gently does not curl the ribbon as effectively. If you pull too gently then you don't induce the permanent deformation. If you pull too hard then you stretch both upper and lower surfaces and reduce the difference in length. Want to read more? Register to unlock all the content on the site.

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Read previous Everyday science Blog Cutting the fat from chocolate. Discover more from Physics World. Everyday science Blog Theory of teapot dribbling is complete at last, solar panels host astonishing microorganisms. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Part 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Purchase a roll of curling ribbon.

You can find plastic curling ribbon in most craft stores and gift wrapping aisles. Curling ribbon can have a smooth or crimped texture. Narrow curling ribbon intended for gift wrapping sometimes comes in shiny or metallic holiday colors. Measure out a length of curling ribbon. As a rule of thumb, an uncurled strand of ribbon should be 3 to 6 times longer than the final curled strand. For loose curls, you can use shorter strands.

Cut the ribbon. Use craft scissors to cut the ribbon from the spool. But you can cut the ends of wider ribbon on a degree angle to create an attractive finish. This way you can make them shorter, or you can give them a different edge finish. Part 2. Identify the natural curl of the ribbon. If your curling ribbon came on a spool or a rolled bundle, it will instinctively curl in one direction.

For instance, if the ribbon was rolled around a spool in a clockwise manner, it will form a loose clockwise curl even when you cut it off. But if you flip it over, it will have a counter-clockwise curl. Grip a strand of ribbon in your non-dominant hand. Hold an open pair of craft scissors in your dominant hand. Carefully separate the blades.