======Inertia - Which String Breaks======


<WRAP right box>
**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
\\
**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
\\


**Alternative titles:** Inertia of a stone, A quick pull is a break for Newton.
</WRAP>

====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Suspend a heavy mass from a sturdy support using a strong top string.  
  - Attach a string to the bottom of the ball so it hangs freely.  
  - Pull the lower strings very quickly with a sharp tug. Observe that the bottom string snaps because the ball’s inertia resists sudden motion.  
  - Retie and pull the bottom string very slowly and steadily. Observe that the top string breaks because it experiences greater tension than the bottom string in this case.  
  - Discuss the difference between the outcomes of quick versus slow pulls in terms of inertia and tension forces.



====Links==== 
Inertia explained by breaking a string - PhyicsIsFun: 
{{youtube>5KbqwSmEjEE?}}\\

Inertia Demonstration. Which String Breaks? - PrerequisiteName: 
{{youtube>X0OCLRbQzzs?}}\\

📄 Inertia Ball Breaks String - UChicago Instructional Physics Laboratories: [[https://www.physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/newtons_laws/inertia_ball_breaks_string]]\\



====Variations====
  * Use weights of different masses to see how mass affects which string breaks.
  * Attach a spring scale to measure the force applied during slow pulls.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Ensure the weight is not too heavy for the support or strings, to avoid falling hazards.  
  * Use strong supports to prevent accidental collapse.  
  * Keep faces and hands clear of the path of snapping strings.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the bottom string break during a quick tug but the top string break during a slow pull?  
  * How does inertia explain the outcome of the quick pull?  
  * Why is the tension greater in the top string during a slow pull?  
  * How does the mass of the ball affect the results?  
  * Can you think of everyday examples where pulling quickly versus slowly makes a difference (e.g., pulling off a bandage, snapping a tablecloth)?